TUESDAY 28TH JUNE 2022 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Emeﬁele: Nigeria’s FX Policy Targeted at Preserving Naira Value, Others Non- convertibility of currencies pose challenge for FX management, says WAIFEM DG James Emejo in Abuja The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday said the objectives of the country’s exchange rate policy were to preserve the

value of the domestic currency and maintain a favourable external reserves position. Emefiele stressed that the central bank’s foreign exchange (FX) regime further seeks to ensure external balance without compromising

the need for internal balance and the overall goal of macroeconomic stability. The central bank governor also said the overarching goals of the apex bank includes to achieve exchange rate stability that ensures

a viable external sector, anchor inflationary expectations and improve and support economic growth. The CBN governor who spoke at the opening of the Regional Course on Exchange Rate Regimes and

Policies, organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) with participants from Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone in attendance, also said the thrust of exchange rate management

by the bank was to allow the market system to determine the exchange rate parity in an efficient manner devoid of the activities of speculators and rent-seekers. Continued on page 10

2023: INEC Chairman Assures United Nations of Credible Polls... Page 12 Tuesday 28 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9940. Price: N250

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SMBLF Demands Inclusion of State Police in Nigeria’s Internal Security Architecture... Page 6

Ariwoola Emerges Acting CJN After Muhammad is Forced Out Don’t let Nigerians lose confidence in judiciary, Buhari warns Supreme Court justices NBA links resignation to frosty relations with colleagues Atiku commends ex-chief justice, Makinde congratulates successor Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday, emerged acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after

President Muhammadu Buhari administered the oath of office on him. Ariwoola’s emergence

followed the sudden resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad, who was allegedly forced out of office in

the wake of allegations bordering on corruption. Buhari warned the Supreme

Court justices against any act Continued on page 10

FIRS to the Rescue as Subsidy Gulps NNPC’s Revenue Revenue generating agency now contributes over 60% to FAAC Cash-strapped Nigeria again loses $650.7m crude to force majeure, equipment failure, others Obinna Chima in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja With a major chunk of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) monthly revenue now being channeled to the payment of fuel subsidy, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) now relies heavily on the revenue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for its monthly sharing to the three tiers of government. The 2021 financial records of the FIRS’ contributions to FAAC showed that in the year under review, the federal revenue collecting agency’s contribution was a total of 59.45 per cent, as out of the total of N8.912 trillion to the three tiers of government last year, Continued on page 10

FIRS' CONTRIBUTION TO DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE FEDERATION ACCOUNTS ALLOCATION COMITTEE (FAAC) MONTH

January February March April May June July August September October November December

2021 FAAC Total FIRS Contribution Contribution (N)

591.330 596.427 835.330 675.793 603.063 1021.760 764.783 728.234 878.580 584.310 853.035 779.226 8911.869

388.541 361.265 501.323 403.703 359.767 664.305 397.947 403.852 516.566 333.82 496.195 470.902 5,298.19

FIRS % Contribution

65.71 60.57 60.01 59.74 59.66 65.02 52.03 55.46 58.80 57.13 58.17 60.43 59.45

THE NEW CJN...

The new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olu Kayode Ariwoola, during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

See THISDAY Editorial on the Sacked CJN... Page 22

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF AHMSG IN LAGOS... L-R: Secretary General, African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group, AHMSG, Mohamed Alboraie; Director, Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, University of Lativia, Prof. Marcis Leja; President, African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group, AHMSG, Prof. Stella Smith; Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako; and Member, European Helicobacter and PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Microbiota Study Group, EHMSG, Munich Germany. Dr. Christian Schulz, at the opening ceremony and public presentation of AHMSG in Lagos… yesterday

Osinbajo: Days of Drug Abuse Are Numbered in Nigeria Says scourge portends danger for young people, undermines security NDLEA begins radical reforms to provide treatment, care, rehabilitation of addicts, seizes 30,000kgs of drugs in Ondo MTN pledges support Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has assessed the current war being waged against illicit drugs in the country and declared that the days of drug abuse were numbered in Nigeria. Speaking yesterday in Abuja, on the occasion of the 2022 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking

which had as its theme: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises," Osinbajo flayed the prevailing menace of drug abuse in Nigeria, which he said portends grave consequences for young people and undermines the security of the country. He, however said the nation was winning the drug war, adding that the days of the scourge of drug abuse and dependency in the country were numbered.

The vice president's optimism was premised on the renewed vigour of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the commitment of the Federal Government and the support of development partners. According to him: “We are winning this war. The days of the scourge of drug abuse and dependency are clearly numbered, but it will involve even greater investment in focus and determination for the

long haul," according to the Vice President. "The NDLEA especially in the last two years under the dynamic leadership of General Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, has been fiercer and sharper in its determination to stamp out drug abuse and trafficking in the country. His vision and strong resolve have given the war against drug trafficking and abuse new energy, purpose and clearer direction.

Lagos, a Refugee-friendly State, Says Sanwo-Olu W’Bank commends state on successful agric assisted projects implementation Segun James Lagos State will remain open and continue to provide nondiscriminatory assistance to all displaced persons seeking safety from violent conflicts and disasters. The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who made the pledge during a commemorative event organised in Lagos, to mark the World Refugees Day, maintained that the state would remain a refugee-friendly city and provide economic opportunities to displaced persons legitimately seeking to rebuild their lives. There are an estimated 84,000 refugees settled in Nigeria from other African countries. Lagos is hosting 1,656 registered refugees and 611 asylum seekers from 34 countries. Most of these persons have been integrated into communities to start a new life. Sanwo-Olu said Lagos took the responsibility to offer protection to refugees as a sacred duty of human rights, rather than privilege. He said the state had maintained a non-discriminatory policy to enforce the rights of persons seeking safety, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, religion and their origin. He added: “It gladdens our heart as a government to receive the validation that Lagos is a city with refugees. I make the further pledge

that we will continue to make the state a refugee-friendly city and a land of opportunity for refugees legitimately seeking to rebuild their lives here. “As a government leader, my administration will continue to offer protection and provide the ambiance for displaced persons to improve their well-being. “No matter what the political belief, religion, tribe, or gender of anyone seeking safety in our communities from violent conflicts, we will not do anything that will make them uncomfortable living in the state. “Once we give the refugees social protection, we believe they can use their talents and energy to flourish, thereby contributing their own quota to the development of their host communities and the state’s economic growth.” Sanwo-Olu however spoke to the root cause of the refugees’ proliferation, appealing to political actors to fashion out ways to amicably resolve disagreements that had the potential to result in violent conflicts. This, the governor said was necessary to stem the growing number of persons running away from their communities due to violent conflicts. He said the global refugee figures remained an “embarrassing number” to humanity, calling for

restraint among warring global leaders. Sanwo-Olu hailed the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI), the United States Government, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for responding to the challenges of displaced persons. “I’m also using this platform to enjoin Lagosians to exhibit the true spirit of the state, by welcoming all asylum seekers who have a genuine interest to be part of their communities. “The refugees must not be forced to return to where their lives and well-being would be threatened again,” the governor said. On her part, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, called for more action to address discrimination against refugees in non-conflict zones, pointing out that the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War had aggravated the crisis of refugee. Represented by Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, the minister said Nigeria would continue to respect the provisions of the 1951 Convention on Refugee, stressing that international best practice would be employed in handling the IDPs across the country.

NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, Hajia Imaan Ibrahim-Sulaiman, said the signing of the Declaration of Lagos as a ‘City with Refugees’ signified “a defining moment” with global significance. The signing, she said, underscored the place of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other Persons of Concern (PoCs) in the heart of Lagos. “Under the current leadership, Lagos has created inclusiveness and promoted hope for refugees and other PoCs through favourable policies in the areas of education, health and social services. “With the signing, Lagos is going to join other league of towns and cities in the world that have signed the Declaration,” Ibrahim-Sulaiman said. UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, said the commemoration was to celebrate the strength and courage of refugees, while also recognising their resilience and taking action to solve their plight. She urged global leaders to step up and work together to solve the global refugee challenges. A Cameroonian refugee, Zemkwe Nekuna, a lawyer, who spoke on behalf of international refugees in Nigeria, delivered the appreciation Continued on page 12

“I am glad to hear that in 2021, about 8,000 drug users were counselled and rehabilitated by the NDLEA, and in the first half of this year alone, over 11,000 drug users have been counselled and treated. We must maintain a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to tackling drug abuse.” Commenting on the approach that ensures the realisation of the objective, Osinbajo said, “the new normal offers us opportunities for increased innovation in tackling this menace, through technology-based monitoring systems for promptly detecting and addressing drug market changes; and also accelerating mobile outreach programmes, remote consultation, and treatment for those who suffer from drug use disorders and are without the appropriate care.” He noted that in as much as the federal government through its agencies and the state governments would lead the charge with decisive policy initiatives, the strides must be complemented by changes at the family and community level. "The kind of change we seek regarding drug abuse cannot happen without the collaboration of families, faith-based organisations and community leadership at the local levels.” Osinbajo, therefore, noted that a society free of drug criminals was achievable by, “relentlessly breaking illicit drug supply chains and distribution networks; discouraging drug use through intensive outreach and sensitisation; and also promptly prosecuting traffickers.” He added that: "We must intensify rehabilitation of drug addicts, because what we are faced with is indeed a public health crisis — a crisis that is taking lives, destroying families and shattering communities." According to the vice president, drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking has become a global public health and socio economic challenge, which places a huge burden on the Nigeria's health care system, with, "grave consequences for young people and the productivity

of our labor force," undermining the security of communities. Osinbajo made specific reference to a United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC) report which said, "drug use was responsible for the death of almost half a million people in 2019. And drug use disorders resulted in the loss of 18 million years of healthy life.” “The 2018 National Drug use survey also revealed that Nigeria at the time that there were about 14.3 million drug users, of which close to 3 million suffer from drug use disorder. "This figure represents a 14.4 per cent prevalence rates in Nigeria, which is about three times the global average prevalence rate of five per cent. The UNODC also in its 2021 World Drug Report projects that by 2030 the number of people using drugs around the world will rise by 11 per cent and by 40 per cent in Africa alone causes a disturbing projection because as the country with the largest population in Africa, this implies that Nigeria's use of drug abuse prevalence will rise substantially especially considering the proportions that we are leaders in terms of population." "And the past 17 months, the elderly we are told has recorded over 17,647 arrests of offenders including 10 drug barons and I'm sure that that number increases everyday if you're following the news, with over 2369, convicted persons and over 150,000 kilograms of drugs that have been seized within the same period. So the statistics show that 5.5 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years used drugs at least once since 2018. This is precisely the age bracket that we cannot afford to lose to drugs." Osinbajo, while lamenting the increasing trends of drug abuse in areas of conflict and in post conflict settings, such as in IDP and refugee camps, said the development was a special concern to Nigeria, especially as the country is in the throes of civil conflict and terrorism, resulting in the displacement of large numbers Continued on page 35

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NEWS

LAGOS AS “CITY WITH REFUGEES”... L-R: Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu receiving a plaque from UNHCR Nigeria Representative, Ms. Chansa Kapaya during the signing and declaration of Lagos as “City With Refugees” at the American Corner, Local Airport Road, Ikeja,...yesterday

SMBLF Demands Inclusion of State Police in Nigeria’s Internal Security Architecture Says resort to self-help may become national option Irabor: Zamfara governor lacks power to order CP to issue gun licence Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh and Udora Orizu in Abuja Following the call by Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on residents of the state to bear arms in self-defence, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), yesterday, called for the inclusion of multi-level policing, otherwise called state police, in the internal security architecture of the country. SMBLF made the call at the end of its extraordinary meeting in Abuja. The group raised critical issues on the state of the nation, warning that resort to self-help may soon become the only option open to the Nigerian people if the government fails to address the mounting security challenges. But the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, disagreed with the Zamfara State governor's directive, saying he lacks the power to order the Commissioner of Police in the state to issue gun licences to citizens. SMBLF said the federal government and the National Assembly should ensure that requisite legislative instruments were put in place to handle the high-level insecurity in the country, rather than indulge in meaningless lamentations. The meeting, chaired by National Leader of SMBLF and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, had in attendance elders and leaders from the southern and Middle Belt regions, who represented the different apex socio-cultural organisations. It had a good attendance by stakeholders and leaders of the respective sociocultural organisations. In a communiqué signed by Clark as leader of SMBLF/PANDEF; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere; Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President-General of Middle Belt Forum; and Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide for the President-General, SMBLF reiterated its earlier statement on zoning and other critical issues. The meeting extensively discussed critical issues of national concern, including worsening insecurity, outcome of the presidential primaries of the political parties, the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, continuous voters registration, and INEC’s preparation for the 2023 general election. At the end of the one-day meeting, the group resolved as follows: “That the state of insecurity in the

country is worsening by the day, with devastating impacts on the welfare and livelihood of ordinary Nigerians, thus, calls on the federal government to take urgent steps to stem the tide and assuage the suffering of Nigerians. “Forum denounces the spate of targeted terrorist attacks on churches and abduction of church leaders in the country. “In this connection, condemns, in strongest terms, the daring attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, on June 5 by gunmen, killing no fewer than 40 people and injuring many other worshippers; describes as worrisome the hasty and doubtful conclusion by the federal government that the dastardly act was carried out by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).” The group further condemned the serial attacks and killings going on the Middle Belt region of the country. It stated, “We condemn the incessant killings of the indigenous peoples and decimation of communities in the Middle Belt Region, in particular, the current escalated war on Southern Kaduna, targeting communities and churches in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, with reports of helicopters dropping weapons and supplies to the terrorists in their locations. “SMBLF equally decried the continued confinement of victims of the Kaduna train attack in the terrorists’ labyrinth after 89 days as well as several other Nigerians, who have been held by terrorists and criminals for months; calls on the federal government and security agencies to secure the safe release of all victims. “Warns that the ambiguity of the federal government and the failure of the security agencies to decisively deal with these situations, buttress concerns that officials of the federal government and security agents are complicit in the security anomalies in the country. “Warns that the continuous abdication of the government’s primary and abiding constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens is an irresistible signal to Nigerians to exercise their inalienable rights of self-defence by all means, in deviance of extant laws, which have not deterred terrorists from the use of weapons even superior to those of the security agencies.” The organisation reiterated the “imperative of State Police in the

internal security architecture of the federation and urges the federal government and the National Assembly to ensure the requisite legislative instrument in this regard rather than indulging in meaningless lamentations.” On the issue of the protracted industrial action by ASUU, the group tasked the federal government to end the imbroglio. The communiqué said, “SMBLF expresses great concern over the continuous closure of Nigerian public universities due to the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and urges both the federal government and ASUU to take all necessary steps to

urgently bring this situation to an end and let the students return to their lectures, in the interest of the nation’s future and development.” On the outcome of the presidential primaries of the political parties, the group frowned on the parties that violated the principle of zoning in the polity. It maintained, “SMBLF firmly reiterates its stance on the principle of zoning and power rotation between the North and the South, as the fulcrum on which the Nigerian federation has since independence been premised. “Accordingly, commends the political parties, which in line with the need for national cohesion, equity,

fairness and justice, have nominated their presidential candidates from the South, particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and others. “Further deplores the insensitivity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties, including Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Young Progressive Party (YPP), in nominating presidential candi-

dates from the North for the 2023 election, in total disregard of the time-honoured principle of rotation. “Commits to, in due course, engaging with the appropriate presidential candidates and afterwards decide on which of the candidates to recommend to the peoples of Southern Nigeria, the Middle Belt region and, indeed, all Nigerians of goodwill, for consideration at the polls in 2023.” SMBLF also asked the youth to make sure they obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and be ready to exercise their fundamental rights. Continued online

AfDB to Establish Foundation for Africa’s Selfsufficiency in Medicine, Vaccines’ Production Dike Onwuamaeze The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) has approved the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) that is meant to champion the quest for Africa’s to manufacture its own medicines and vaccines. The APTF which would be hosted in Rwanda is expected to significantly transform pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa and enhance the continent’s access to the technologies that underpin the manufacture of medicines, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products. The foundation would also prioritise technologies, products and processes that are focused primarily on diseases that are widely prevalent in Africa, including current and future pandemics. It would also develop human and professional skills, the research and development ecosystem, and support upgrading of manufacturing plant capacities and regulatory quality to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. In addition, it would also promote and broker alliances between foreign and African pharmaceutical companies. The President of AfDB Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina described the step to establish the APTF as a great development for Africa. Adesina said: “Africa can no longer outsource the healthcare security of its 1.3 billion citizens to the benevolence of others. Africa must have a health defense system, which must include three major areas: revamping Africa’s pharma-

ceutical industry, building Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity, and building Africa’s quality healthcare infrastructure. “Even with the decision of the TRIPS Waiver at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), millions are dying -and will most likely continue to die - from lack of vaccines and effective protection. The APTF provides a practical solution and will help to tilt the access to proprietary technologies, knowledge, know-how and processes in favor of Africa.” The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the WHO in their respective reactions commended the AfDB’s decision to establish the APTF. The Director-General of the WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said: “The APTF is innovative thinking and action by the AfDB. It provides part of the infrastructure needed to assure an emergent pharmaceutical industry in Africa.” Speaking in the same vein, the Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: “Establishing the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, by the African Development Bank, is a game changer on accelerating the access of African pharmaceutical companies to IP-protected technologies and know-how in Africa.” The approval of the establishment of the foundation was in response to the call on the AfDB in February 2022 by African leaders during the African Union’s summit in Addis Ababa to facilitate the establishment of the APTF. The AfDB in a statement yester-

day said the establishment of the APTF would be a major boost to the health prospects of a continent that had been battered for decades by the burden of several diseases and pandemics such as COVID-19, but with very limited capacity to produce its own medicines and vaccines. The bank said, “Africa imports more than 70 per cent of all the medicines it needs, gulping $14 billion per year.” It stated that the global efforts to rapidly expand the manufacturing of essential pharmaceutical products including vaccines particularly in Africa, to assure greater access medicine, had been hampered by intellectual property rights protection and patents on technologies, know-how, manufacturing processes and trade secrets. “African pharmaceutical companies do not have the scouting and negotiation capacity, and bandwidth to engage with global pharmaceutical companies. They have been marginalised and left behind in complex global pharmaceutical innovations. Recently, 35 companies signed a license with America’s Merck to produce Nirmatrelvir, a COVID-19 drug. None of them was African. “No institution exists on the ground in Africa to support the practical implementation of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) on non-exclusive or exclusive licensing of proprietary technologies, know-how and processes. “The APTF will fill this important and glaring gap. When fully

established, it will be staffed with world-class experts on pharmaceutical innovation and development, intellectual property rights, and health policy; acting as a transparent inter-mediator advancing and brokering the interests of the African pharmaceutical sector with global and other southern pharmaceutical companies to share IP-protected technologies, know-how and patented processes,” the AfDB said. The bank also announced that the APTF would operate independently and raise funds from various stakeholders including governments, development finance institutions, and philanthropic organisations among others. The foundation would also, “boost the AfDB’s commitment to spend at least $3 billion over the next 10 years to support the pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing sector under its Vision 2030 Pharmaceutical Action Plan. The Foundation’s areas of work will also be an asset to all other current investments into pharmaceutical production in Africa.” The APTF would also strengthen local pharmaceutical companies to engage in local production initiatives with systematic technology learning and technology upgrading at the plant level. “The foundation will work with African governments, research and development centers of excellence to strengthen the regional pharmaceutical and vaccine innovation ecosystem for Africa and build skills of the kind needed for the pharmaceutical sector to flourish.

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SHAIBU CONSOLES COMMUNITY OF MURDERED CATHOLIC PRIEST... L-R: Brigade Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Sani Abdullahi; Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Revd. Gabriel Dunia; Edo State Acting Governor, Philip Shaibu; and Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, during a visit to Ikabigbo, in Etsako West Local Government Area... yesterday

Obi, Sekibo, Others List Improved Security, Quality Leadership as Recipe for Economic Prosperity The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo and other notable Nigerians have stressed that the way to boost economic prosperity and peace in the country was to start addressing leadership challenges and insecurity. Other notable people that spoke on the matter included Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Dr. Victoria Ekhomu and Sotonye Inyeinengi-Etomi. They spoke

during the second edition of a one-day International colloquium organised by The Men’s League of Christ Church Port Harcourt, tagged: “What Do Nigerians Want? extensively brainstormed on the kind of leadership the country needs presently and how to rescue the country from its current debacle. The former governor of Anambra state and presidential aspirant, Obi lamented the huge indebtedness of the country, which he blamed on unproductivity due

to the inimical situation of high unemployment rate resulting to over 80 million Nigerians being jobless. He blamed the cumulative failure of government over the years on insecurity, failure to migrate from sharing formula to production formula to transform the power sector and the need to focus and support the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking on the topic, “The

Economy Nigeria Needs to Break Forth,” Sekibo stressed that in achieving the transformation the country needs, there was urgent and need to address insecurity, which according to him, was the foundation of prosperity. He pointed out that no nation would achieve much where the is no peace. Sekibo, who was represented by the Divisional Head, Strategy & Business Solutions, Segun Akanji emphasised that for

2023: APC Denies Budgeting N6.5trn for Vote-buying, Bribe INEC, Security Operatives Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied budgeting a whopping sum of N6.5 trillion to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security operatives, judicial officers and to buy votes. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Morka in a statement yesterday, blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for peddling such mischievous information. He said: "The attention of the APC has been drawn to a document in circulation described as, "leaked APC 2023 Election Document." "Mischievously, the document alleged that our party has voted a whooping N6.5 trillion to fund schemes aimed at swaying the Nigerian electorate to support and vote for the party and its presidential candidate in 2023. "Ridiculously, too, the document alleged that obscene amounts of money have been voted for outright vote-buying; compromising INEC staff; security operatives; judicial officers and other officials." The party’s spokesperson clarified that the document did not emanate from the APC, adding that the party never authored any of such document.

Morka added: "Indubitably, the document is the handiwork of very sick elements of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a desperate quest for unmerited electoral advantage by attempting to smear our party with wrongdoing. "In their zealous attempt to mudsling, the document’s authors senselessly alleged that our party proposes to apply nearly half of the country’s entire 2022 budget to buy votes. “How in the world does a government operating a national budget of N17trillion dole out N6.5trillion to rig elections? It clearly betrays the authors’ extreme ignorance of the complexity of the systems and processes for the appropriation and utilisation of state funds." Morka said the ruling party was focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians in hope that they would reciprocate by supporting and voting for the party's candidates come 2023 elections. He noted that APC is a law abiding party and has no need to engage in any fraud and electoral malpractice suggested in that worthless document. The party spokesperson said only a party that is a masterful looter of the national treasury could even imagine another capable of engaging in the kinds of atrocious

acts the document suggests. The ruling party, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard the document, describing it as sleazy propaganda for which he alleged the PDP had gained notoriety.

Morka reiterated that APC remained committed to building an innovative system of free and credible elections as witnessed in the recently concluded governorship election in Ekiti state.

security purposes, there must be an established functional and value adding identity system in place. “On a higher note, I think one of the things that we need to achieve as a country is the issue of functional and value adding identity management, which is still far away from us, although, some people know that we have BVN, NIMC and a few other identity capture systems but they have not been as functional and value adding, like the social security number that most people in advanced economies carry,” he stated. Sekibo further explained that to achieve a prosperous economy, Nigeria needs to find ways and means by policies to build dual circulation economy which thrives on three pillars. “We need to make our people are productive and stop putting subsidy in unproductive zones. When you give subsidy to people with inadequate or no income,

they really cannot add value to the economy, and money has a way of flowing away due to import of consumables from other countries and because of this, a larger portion of every consumption or cash given as subsidy gets out of the country,” said Sekibo. In his paper titled, “The President Nigeria Needs,” Ighodalo harped on the need for leadership change. He argued that what the country needed now are leaders who have vision and are ready to sacrifice for the common man, stating, “things must be done differently”. Ighodalo believed leadership remains the bane of Nigeria’s transformation, stressing that once we get good leadership other things will fall in place. Also, Oyewo while speaking on the topic “Restructuring and True Federalism,” was of the view that some responsibilities needed to be decentralised like the police, power provision and railway.

Union Kicks against Buhari's Health Sector Reform Committee Demands end to discriminatory practices Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Health workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NAUHP) has expressed dissatisfaction with the composition of the Presidential Committee on Health Sector Reform chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The union demanded the reconstitution of committee to include representatives of other healthcare professionals and health sector unions. The healthcare workers made up of professionals in the pharmacy, medical laboratory science, physiotherapy, radiography, dietetics, dental technology, occupational therapy, health information management, nutrition, medical social work, speech therapy, optometry, clinical psychology, prosthetics/orthotics, medical physics and audiology,

said the constitution of the presidential committee was skewed in favour of medical doctors to the exclusion of other health care workers. The workers further called for a complete overhauling of public health infrastructures nationwide. President of NUAHP, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna who addressed a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said, "the reform committee with over 95 per cent presence of physicians already negates the rights and liberties of the majority of health workers in Nigeria." He said the training of medical practitioners was also being given priority over other healthcare professionals. Ogbonna said another disturbing trend was that physicians believed that they, "own” the patients whereas the World Medical Association stated that they have an obligation to cooper-

ate in coordination of medically indicated care with other healthcare providers treating the patients. Nigeria's health sector is currently rated 187 globally, closely with war-raged countries He said the bone of contention was the controversial Decree 10 of 1985 promulgated by the military and still in use. Ogbonna blamed the offensive decree as being responsible to a large extent for the deterioration in the country's health sector thus leading to the scandalous drop in the country’s global rating. Ogbonna said health workers were demanding outright stoppage of all forms of discriminatory and unfair practices against other health professionals in full compliance with International Labour Organisation Convention and Sections 15 (2), 17 (3), and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

They also said appointment of Chief Medical Director should be thrown open for other health care professionals to compete and should be re-designated as Chief Executive Officer. Other demands by the union included: "Commencement of the payment of new hazard allowance for healthcare workers, implementation of sections of past presidential committee reports on health sector considered to be fair to all stakeholders, immediate implementation of circular on Pharmacist Consultant Cadre and approval and implementation of adjusted Consolidate Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). They also demanded payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, withheld salaries and other allowances in all federal health institutions and full implementation of CONHESS for state health workers in states yet to do so.

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TEN FIRS TO THE RESCUE AS SUBSIDY GULPS NNPC’S REVENUE N5.298 trillion was contributed by the federal revenue collecting agency. The trend has continued in the first five months of 2022 as the NNPC’s contribution is still weighed down by the fuel subsidy burden. This emerged just as Nigeria again lost a whopping $650.7 million to crude oil losses resulting from declaration of force majeure, equipment failures and host communities’ disturbances between the April and May production cycle. The World Bank had estimated that fuel subsidy payment in the country may rise to N5 trillion this year. Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari shut down calls for the removal of petrol subsidy, querying why the West should be demanding that Nigeria ends subsidy payments, while they continue to support their citizens with same to ameliorate the current economic hardship. In May, the NNPC was unable to carry out its statutory obligations to the federation, recording a N704 billion deficit for the year thus far. In its monthly presentation to FAAC for May, the national oil company had disclosed that it deducted another N327.07 billion as shortfall in the month under review. With a projected N1.473 trillion payments to the federation for the entire year and a monthly remittance of N122.767 billion, the implication was that the federal, state and local governments may continue to have cash shortages for a while since the payments constitute a major revenue source. In January, February and March 2022, petrol subsidy gulped 210.38 billion, N219.78 billion, and N245.77 billion, respectively while in April, the country spent N271 billion. These deductions were expected to continue throughout the year. However, a breakdown of the FIRS monthly contribution to FAAC for 2021 showed that in January, it contributed 65.71 per cent (N388.54billion) to FAAC; in February (60.57%) – N361.26 billion; March (60.01%) – N501.32 billion; April (59.74%) – N403.70 billion; May (59.66%) – N359.77 billion; June (65%) – N664.30 billion and July (52.03%) – N397.95 billion. Other months included August (55.46%) – N403.85 billion; Sep-

tember (58.8%) – N516.57 billion; October (57.13%) – N333.82 billion; November (58.17%) – N496.19 billion and December (60.43%) – N470.90 billion. The report also showed that in the past three years, the FIRS had been making steady progress in terms of revenue collections as it garnered N5.262 trillion in 2019; N4.952 trillion in 2020 (obviously due to COVID-19) and N6.405 trillion in 2021. It was glaring that the FIRS has been gradually making progress despite the impact of Covid-19, the instability in the oil and gas sector, insecurity in the country and economic downturn. Findings also revealed that out of the total expenditure incurred by the FIRS during the year 2021, the payment of staff salaries, allowances and other staff-related costs accounted for over 63.6 per cent. Other key recurrent activities of the Service took 19.2 per cent of the funds, while capital expenditure accounted for only 4.8 per cent of the total fund utilisation for the period under review. Interestingly, out of the meagre amount received by the apex revenue agency, 12.47 per cent of the total amount received as cost of collection (CoC) was transferred for servicing the capital project account and for the funding of its 13th-month salary to staff. The 19.2 per cent which represented other key recurrent activities was spent on fueling and servicing over 272 generators, rent and the rent paid in respect of over 71 rented properties/office accommodation (particularly in Lagos). The remaining amount was used for capacity building of over 11,000 workers, fueling and maintaining over 1584 operational vehicles, and payment of Service Level Agreements for security, cleaning, and maintenance of properties and critical equipment in its over 367 operational offices nationwide. Sadly, the agency could only spend 4.8 per cent of its revenue on capital projects. This could be largely attributed to the lack of adequate funding for the critical agency which accounts for well over 60 per cent of the monies distributed to the three tiers of government in the year 2021. Analysts believed that in view

7KH IROORZLQJ DOVR UHSUHVHQW VXPPDU\ RI WKH DJHQF\·V total collections in the past three (3) years:

SUMMARY OF COLLECTION Tax Type

PPT CIT Gas Income CGT Stamp Duty NCE Imp. VAT Non Imp. VAT EDT CON ACCT NITDEF EMTL TOTAL

2019 2020 Collections by Tax Category

2021

2,144.27 1,604.70 21.93 5.97 18.19 244.52 945.46 221.06 70.63 15.18

1,516.99 1,275.38 134.06 3.52 120.16 347.72 1,183.45 259.56 93.36 18.01

5,261.92

4,952.22

2,008.34 1,782.06 114.38 17.50 25.50 467.68 1,605.17 189.54 61.20 19.31 114.05 6,404.73

of the above positive contributions, the agency needs more support from the government than it is currently getting. This, according to them was necessary because of the current peculiar revenue challenge the country was facing as well as in view of some of the global and local challenges being faced by the revenue authorities. These included capital projects started some years ago by FIRS are yet to be completed; some of the agency’s construction sites have been abandoned due to delays in honouring payments certificates; inadequate funding has also made it difficult for the FIRS to adequately build capacity and retrain its officers for modern tax administrative practices; as well as lack of ICT infrastructure necessary to identify and track digital transactions. Specifically, FIRS has lots of capital projects it had started (including its Corporate Headquarters which is rated one of the 10 top capital projects in Africa) and could not complete the project for lack of funds. The provision of adequate funding would also be necessary because the FIRS would be able to deploy technology and block leakages; generate more revenue to fund the budgetary needs of both local and state governments as well as the federal government at the centre; complete its capital

projects (particularly its HQ, prototype offices, training schools etc.) to save it from the current huge rents it pays to landlords for its office accommodations in some major cities; and above all provide more funds for the country as against the current resort to constant borrowing by the government at all levels is unsustainable. Furthermore, analysts also advised governments at all levels to invest wisely the little that the apex revenue agency currently generates in critical infrastructure, social amenities, safety and security of the citizens.

Cash-strapped Nigeria Again Loses $650.7m Crude to Force Majeure, Equipment Failure, Others

Meanwhile, Nigeria again lost a whopping $650.7 million to crude oil losses resulting from declaration of force majeure, equipment failures and host communities’ disturbances between the April and May production cycle. When converted to naira, the country’s local currency, using the official exchange rate of N420/$, the amount Nigeria lost for the period was an estimated N273,296,023,560. On the average the price per barrel of oil, according to a THISDAY review, sold for approximately $114

EMEFIELE: NIGERIA’S FX POLICY TARGETED AT PRESERVING NAIRA VALUE, OTHERS He pointed out that the bank’s choice of exchange rate regime had at all times been determined by the prevailing economic fundamentals, adding that it was not uncommon that the dynamics of the external and domestic economy lead to a change in regime. He said indeed, global economic and financial crisis, pandemics, currency crisis, commodity supply shocks and geopolitical tensions to name a few determines the choice of exchange rate regime. The bank currently operates a free-float regime, whereby it intervenes in the market whenever necessary. Emefiele, specifically noted that for developing economies including Nigeria where the demand for imports remained high, an appropriate exchange rate regime was required to safeguard capital outflow and ring-fence the external reserves. Represented at the capacity building course by the CBN Deputy Director, Monetary Policy Department, Mrs. Omolara Duke, Emefiele further explained that the choice of an exchange rate regime by a country was largely dependent on the assessment of its specific macroeconomic objectives, state of economic development and the focus of its foreign exchange policy. He said, “For the advanced economies, the exchange rate regime galvanises towards the floating regime, as the majority of them have convertible currencies and are therefore less exposed to the vagaries of currency fluctuations. “Developing economies are more cautious towards protecting their economies from adverse movements of convertible currencies which they trade with and therefore avoid regimes that will

expose them to speculative attacks and currency crisis and desire to promote long-term growth.” He added, “The choice of their exchange rate regime consequently tilts toward preventing massive capital inflows and currency crises and promoting trade. “The choices of an exchange regime that will achieve exchange rate stability, capital mobility, and independent monetary policy simultaneously often leave a decision to achieve two out of these three outcomes. An exchange rate regime, therefore, must be credible and reflect the underlying fundamentals of the economy. “Countries rarely take the extremes of the regimes, that is the fixed or the free-floating except in certain cases. Most countries exhibit some control over their currencies within the broad spectrum of the two extremes.” Emefiele, nevertheless said the bank had undertaken various initiatives to support the diversification of the Nigerian economy from the reliance on crude-oil export as a major source of foreign exchange, adding that the CBN development finance initiatives provide credit for the real sector to stimulate domestic production, particularly in the agriculture and industrial sectors that have huge potential to earn foreign exchange. He said a major goal is to reduce the pressure on the domestic currency adding that since the inception of the CBN in 1959, the bank had undertaken many exchange rate management regimes – each with its challenges and success. However, Director-General of WAIFEM, Dr. Baba Musa, said the fact that all currencies in WAIFEM member-countries are

non-convertible raises the need for policymakers to appreciate the skills necessary to manage exchange rates. He said the reasons justifying the concentration of attention on exchange rate were not farfetched as exchange rates affect cross-border economic transactions. According to him, trade, investment, finance, tourism, and migration, among others are profoundly influenced by international monetary policies, adding that as economies become globalised more firms, investors and workers find their fortunes linked to the exchange rate and its impact on trade and financial flows. Musa said governments in several developing countries governments have searched for alternatives to the uncertainty that could prevail on international currency markets, and rushed to peddle currency nostrums, urging a turn toward dollarisation, managed floating, nominal anchors, target bands, or other options. According to him, there are both theoretical and empirical reasons to expect globalisation to heighten the importance of the exchange rate. He said, “Theoretically, open-economy macroeconomic principles imply that capital mobility profoundly affects exchange rate policy choices. As a result, the government of a financially integrated economy faces a choice between monetary policy autonomy and a fixed exchange rate. “If governments opt for a fixed rate, capital mobility makes impossible a monetary stance different from that of the anchor currency. “Alternatively, if governments opt to sustain an independent monetary policy, they must

allow their currencies to float. These constraints mean that the economics and politics of monetary and exchange rate policy are likely to be very different in an open economy than an economy that is not.” Musa said in as much as international economic integration involves increased exposure to international financial and commercial flows, it heightens concerns of those involved or exposed to international trade and finance. Nonetheless, he noted that all the currencies in WAIFEM membercountries are non-convertible hence the importance for policy-makers to appreciate the skills necessary to manage exchange rates. He said the institute was established by the central banks of The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone in 1996, principally to build capacity for improved macroeconomic and financial and debt management in the constituent member countries. He said WAIFEM has the mandate to conduct research and consultancy in the area of macroeconomic policy management and promotion of best practices, adding that so far, the institute has successfully executed over 828 courses since inception, benefitting more than 23,122 participants from the sub-region and beyond. Essentially, the institute seeks to develop, on a sustainable basis, expertise in the fields of macroeconomics, debt, financial sector management as well as governance and institutional development among the staff of central banks, ministries of finance and economic planning and other public sector agencies with core economic management responsibilities.

last month. To put it in proper context, the gross domestic crude oil and gas revenue from sales for the entire month of May was N426.14 billion, the highest in months. The amount of oil lost during the period extracted from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) excluded the massive volume stolen in the Niger Delta region. The document detailing the national oil firm’s activities for May, showed that over 5.707 million barrels of oil were lost to the breakdown of production equipment, protest from community workforce arising to shutdowns as well as a fire outbreak at one of the terminals. Still struggling with meeting its oil production quota, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last week revealed that Nigeria reported a paltry 1.024 million barrels per day production in May, a multiyear low. With the latest figure released by the OPEC, it meant that Nigeria's underperformance was as high as 700,000 barrels per day for the month, although the cartel’s total allocation to Nigeria exceeded 1.75 million bpd for the month. The 1.024 million bpd production (through primary communication) was about 195,000 bpd less production when compared with the April’s total of 1.219 million bpd, OPEC said. Despite assurances by the various government agencies,

what the OPEC figures implied was that rather than improve, the country’s oil production has actually deteriorated in the past months. Although the authorities have always fingered massive theft as one of the reasons for its inability to meet its quota, the areas rarely discussed include incessant equipment failure and prolonged maintenance of broken down facilities. On the issue of theft, the federal government had also months ago, deployed heavy military presence in the Niger Delta to curb the menace. But the OPEC data confirmed that the action has not made any difference, as nothing appears to have changed since the rejigging of the security arrangement in the region. Specifically, the biggest loss for the period, according to the latest NNPC document, came from the force majeure declared at the Bonny terminal since March 2022. For the entire month, Nigeria lost 3.450 million barrels of oil from the facility. Force majeure refers to a clause in contracts that allows both parties to walk out of the contract when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties happens. The report stated that crude oil production at the terminal has now dropped significantly to as low as three million for the period while the terminal operator has temporarily halted operations. Continued online

ARIWOOLA EMERGES ACTING CJN AFTER MUHAMMAD IS FORCED OUT that could make Nigerians lose confidence in the judiciary as the country prepared for national elections next year. But the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said despite the cordial working relationship between the Bar and the Bench under Muhammad, it was impossible to consider his resignation in isolation from the recent developments at the Supreme Court, where 14 justices censured him over his handling of their welfare and related issues. Nonetheless, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, commended the former CJN for seizing the initiative to resign, just as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde congratulated the new CJN for reaching the peak of his career. Muhammad’s sudden resignation on health grounds had raised suspicion among critical stakeholders, a majority of whom held the view that there was more to it. However, new facts emerged that he did not resign out of his own freewill, but was actually forced out over multiple allegations of corruption. Some of the allegations were said to have involved his children, two of who emerged candidates of the two leading political parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP – at their recent primaries. Although details of the corruption allegations were not out yet at the time of filing this report, THISDAY gathered Muhammad was actually forced to resign immediately after interrogation by security agencies, which denied him the privilege of mulling his options because of the facts before them. It was further gathered that since the emergence of his children as candidates of the two main political parties, the administration in which he served had become uncomfortable over the possibility of compromise at critical times. Curiously, the timing of Muhammad’s resignation and the recent petition by 14 justices of the Supreme Court, who more or less questioned his capacity and handling of the affairs of the apex court, further corroborated insinuations that his resignation was not on health grounds. Muhammad would be the second CJN to be forced out of office under the Buhari administration, in similar circumstances, the late Justice Walter Onoghen being the first. Fourteen justices of the apex court

had specifically protested, among others, the non-availability of basic amenities both in their chambers and homes, which, according to them, was capable of shutting down activities at the final court. In a protest letter to the CJN, dated March 23, 2022, they complained that poor welfare had hindered their job. The grievances of the justices included the non-replacement of vehicles, accommodation problems, lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic, epileptic electricity supply to the Supreme Court, increase in electricity tariff, failure to increase diesel allowances, and lack of Internet services to their residences and chambers. Others were internal problems, which included non-signing of amended Rules of Court for almost three years, sudden stoppage of two to three foreign workshops and trainings per annum for Justices, and no provision of qualified legal assistants.

Buhari to Justices: Don’t let Nigerians Lose Conﬁdence in Judiciary

Buhari cautioned justices of the Supreme Court to guard against acts that could cause lose of confidence in the judiciary. He gave the warning yesterday at the State House, Abuja, while swearing in Ariwoola as acting CJN. The president reiterated his administration's commitment to independence of the judiciary, separation of powers, and the rule of law. He said, "I want to admonish the justices of the Supreme Court to always remain faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to remain steadfastly committed to the Oath of Allegiance, which they all subscribed to, as contained in the 7th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). "Our nation is approaching a critical general election in 2023, the judiciary must not do anything to fail the ordinary people of Nigeria, which may make them lose confidence in the Judiciary." The president lauded the former CJN for strengthening democracy during his period in office. He stated, "Nigeria’s judiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, judiciously exercised the judicial powers of the federation. His Continued on page 34

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE... L-R: Garki Secondary School winners of the Quiz Competition being congratulated by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; NDLEA Chairman, Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) and the Chairman, MTN PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGU Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, at the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Traﬃcking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

2023: INEC Chairman Assures United Nations of Credible Polls Says elections in Nigeria is like conducting same in whole of W’Africa APC will win presidential election, Adamu tells visiting UN officials Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu yesterday assured the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWAS) and the Sahel of a credible general elections in 2023. He also stated that conducting elections in Nigeria was daunting, saying doing so was like conducting elections in the entire West Africa. The INEC Chairman told the special representative of UNOWAS, Mahmat Saleh Annadif who paid a visit to INEC that, "Nigerians will determine who they want in the 2023 general election and we will continue to uphold the choice made by Nigerians. "So I want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our elections continue to get better and better and the democratic environment is increasingly consolidated. We look forward to seeing you again before and during the election." The INEC chairman said each time Nigeria conducts a general election, it’s like a general election in the whole of West Africa. According to the INEC chairman, "there are 15 countries in the sub-region. In order to show the importance of Nigeria in our democracy, as at today, we have 84 million registered voters but

Nigeria is one out of 15 countries in the sub-region. “But, the total number of registered voters in the other 14 countries put together, is 73 million, meaning that Nigeria has 11 million voters more than other countries in the sub-region put together." Furthermore, he said, "we appreciate the enormous responsibility the Commission is charged with. Election is both national and international; we have very good working relationship with strategic partners and allies in the country, we work very closely with the political parties, civil society organisations, media, security agencies in the country but at the same time we also work closely with our friends in the international community such as UNOWAS." Commending the UN special envoy for the visit, Yakubu said, “so whenever you come on this kind of mission, we feel fully encouraged to continue to do what we need to do for the peace and stability of our sub-region. “So, I want to assure you that we will continue to do what is right on the basis of the law, the ultimate choice is going to be made by Nigerians." The UN envoy said his team was in the country to ascertain parts of the preparations for the 2023 general elections, stating that the peace, stability as well as security of Nigeria was very important to

the sub-region The UN envoy added: "We are here at the time Nigeria is preparing to hold election next year, 2023. For us the peace and stability and the security in the region depend also on Nigeria. Nigeria as we always say is a good example, we are happy that the candidates are already selected. “The United Nations will always be supportive to Nigeria so that this election will take place peacefully. We congratulate you and we will support you again for the work been done and the work you will do in preparing for this election," he stated. Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with Annadif, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulahi Adamu boasted that the ruling party would win the 2023 presidential election. Adamu, who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari said this to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the UN Office for West and Sahel who was on a courtesy visit in Abuja. He said the ruling party considered the gubernatorial election that recently took place in Ekiti State as a referendum and a vote of confidence in the party. Adamu said: "We wish to inform the SRSG that the APC is poised to go into the general elections

in the country with commitment to observing the rule of law and intend to participate peacefully. "Being the ruling Party and one with the largest number of registered members numbering 43 million people, the APC has every stake in the orderly and peaceful conduct of the elections across Nigeria. "The APC considers the gubernatorial election that recently took place in Ekiti State as a referendum and a vote of confidence in the party and a pointer to 2023 when the party hopes to form the government in the center and also in most of the states across the six geopolitical zones of the country." The ruling party assured that it was committed to the ideals of democratic governance and observance of rule of law in all its undertakings, adding that, "it shall continue to apply them diligently while canvassing for votes and while it forms the next national government in 2023." Earlier, Annadif who led the 8-member delegation said the UN would like to witness a peaceful and transparent elections in 2023. He said, “We met this morning with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we plan to meet with all the key actors in Nigeria with a very simple message. We will like to see the coming elections going peacefully and accepted in all parts of Nigerians.

Soludo Denies Attacking Obi, Umeh David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has denied attacking the former governor of Anambra State, and Labour party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. Soludo also denied attacking the former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and senatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Chief Victor Umeh.

Some news reports had on Sunday quoted Soludo to have mocked members of APGA, who recently dumped the party for the Labour Party. In the reports, Soludo who was addressing members of APGA had said those who left the party for Labour Party would labour in vain. He was also quoted to have said it was unthinkable for a party that does not have an elected officer to believe it would

win a presidential election. There had been a new wave of defection from APGA to Labour Party since Obi joined the party. But Soludo in a statement by his press secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime said the statement credited to his principal was totally false and unfounded. Aburime said: "Our checks reveal the statement was a total misrepresentation by an overzealous reporter who was not among the journalists present

when Governor Soludo spoke extempore during his interaction with some audience after his 100 days in office media broadcast." He described the attribution as an attempt by some misguided elements to cause disaffection between the Labour Party presidential candidate and his party leadership. He urged the public to disregard the entire statement, insisting that it never emanated from Soludo.

"With the APC in power, you have a very important role to play. We will like to emphasize that the UN is with you and supporting you. “As I like to say, when Nigeria

sneezes, the entire region catches cold. So we like and hope that Nigeria stays in good health and be the locomotive for other regions and this is why we will expect the APC to support peaceful elections."

LAGOS, A REFUGEE-FRIENDLY STATE, SAYS SANWO-OLU note of IDPs to the Government for offering them the platform to grow beyond their predicament.

W’Bank Commends Lagos on Successful Agric Assisted Projects’ Implementation

Meanwhile, following the successful implementation of the World Bank Assisted agricultural projects, the Task Team Leader of the multilateral institution’s mission to Lagos, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, has commended the Lagos Agroprocessing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project for its commitment to farmers in the state. Oredipe stated this yesterday during the Federal Government/ World Bank Eighth Implementation Support Mission visit to the Lagos State held at Agege in Lagos. According to Oredipe, the implementation of the project in the state really improved the livelihood of women and youths as well as enhanced outputs in the agricultural value chain. He said the reports of the activities of the Lagos APPEALS Project were commendable, adding that the World Bank would continue to sustain the project with investment in the state to get the desired results in order to do things differently and finish well. Also, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya said the state government was strongly committed to enhancing the agricultural productivity of small and medium-scale farmers as well as improving value addition along the agricultural value chains in line with the core objectives of the Lagos She said: “The implementation of APPEALS project in Lagos State through capacity building and technology adoption support to our farmers has positively increased

productivity of rice paddy in the State from 1.5 MT to 2.5 MT / Ha and 2.0 -3.56 MT/ Ha for Ofada and FARRO 44 respectively, Catfish productivity has increased from 100 Kg/ m3 to 151.3 Kg / m3, and in poultry, Broiler has increased from 1.8 Kg/ bird per cycle to 2.5 Kg/ bird. “The processed output and sales of products for the value chains follow the same trend such that the aquaculture farmers supported by APPEALS project have produced 307.948 MT Fresh Tilapia and are expanding day by day. By virtue of our abundant water resources with as much as 20 percent of the State made up of water, we are a natural hub for aquaculture. “APPEALS project has continued to promote productivity enhancement technologies and promotion of value addition through demonstration of improved technologies. “These have directly been delivered on the Project Development Objective. Most of these technologies were confirmed through administrative data, though an output survey is in the process of being rolled out to confirm the figures.” Also speaking the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpae said: “Lagos State’s vision of making Africa’s Model Mega City and Global Economic and Financial Hub is hinged on the six pillars of the State’s THEMES developmental agenda of the present administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “It is important to mention that agriculture is embedded among the pillars in ensuring that the state attains a 21st-century economy because of its obvious roles in food, industrial and economic sectors.”

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Russian Missiles Hit Shopping Centre with over 1,000 Shoppers Russia launched missiles Monday that struck a shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the number of casualties is “impossible to even imagine.” Zelensky said more than 1,000 civilians were at the shopping centre at the time of the attack, and the mall was on fire. Initial reports say two people were killed and 20 wounded. The Ukrainian leader deplored the attack, saying the shopping centre, in a city 300 kilometres southeast of the capital, Kyiv, was “no danger to the Russian army, no strategic value.” He said the shoppers only attempted “to live a normal life, which angers Russians so much.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted, “The world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall — the latest in a string of atrocities. We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account.” Meanwhile, ahead of a NATO summit starting Tuesday in Madrid, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance is declaring a sevenfold increase in its troops on standby alert — from 40,000 to more than 300,000.

G-7 Heightening Russia Sanctions for Ukraine War

The United States and the other members of the Group of Seven leading industrialized economies imposed new sanctions Monday against Russia for its four-month invasion of Ukraine. These include measures to cut Moscow off materials and services that its industrial and technology sectors need. The White House said the US will commit $7.5 billion as part of a G-7 effort to help Ukraine cover its short-term budget needs and that the governments are making “an unprecedented, long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support as long as it takes.” In a joint communique, the G-7 said, “We remain appalled by and continue to condemn the brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine by Russia and aided by Belarus. We condemn and will not recognise Russia’s continued attempts to redraw borders by force.” The announcement came as G-7 leaders met in the Bavarian Alps in Germany, where they spoke by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additional specific US sanctions include blocks on Russian state-owned defence enterprises and defence research organisations, limiting Russia’s ability to replenish the equipment it lost in the war and prohibiting gold imports into the United States.

Biden Visit: US Wants Israelis, Palestinians to Calm Tensions

The United States expressed concern Monday about “palpable and dangerous” tensions between Israelis and Palestinians ahead of a visit next month by President Joe Biden to the region. “We once again call on all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that increase tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, such as settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence and evictions,” the deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Mills, told a meeting of the Security Council on the issue of Israeli settlements. Biden will visit Israel and the West Bank and then continue to Saudi Arabia from July 13 through July 16. The White House says the president plans to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss that country’s “security, prosperity, and its increasing integration into the greater region.” Biden will also visit the West Bank to meet with Palestinian Authority officials. Mills said that during the trip, Biden will “urge calm and explore ways to promote equal measures of security, freedom and opportunity for both Israelis and Palestinians.” US-Palestinian relations hit a low in 2020 when the Trump administration unveiled its Middle East peace plan. The Palestinians rejected it outright, saying it heavily favoured Israel and did not give them a sovereign, contiguous state with East Jerusalem as its capital. .

UN Appeals for $110m for Afghan Quake Response

The United Nations made an urgent appeal Monday for $110.3 million to provide life-saving assistance to more than 360,000 Afghans affected last week by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that killed about 1,000 people, including 150 children. The funding is required in the next three months to meet pressing humanitarian needs, prevent more deaths and help rebuild homes and communities shattered by the disaster. The earthquake destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes in several districts in Paktika and Khost provinces, according to

aid agencies and Taliban officials. “I’m appealing to the world — please help. We need money. We need funding. We need support to resolve this tragedy,” Ramiz Alakbarov, U.N. resident relief coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a video message while visiting an area in Paktika province hard hit by the earthquake. More than half of the appealed funding, if provided by donors, will be spent on emergency shelters and non-food items, while about $35 million will go to emergency food and health care needs. Several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar, Pakistan, India and China, have responded to the disaster with planes loaded with tents, clothes, medical supplies and food items. The United States has also pledged aid. .Russia Faces Debt Payment Default Russia moved closer Sunday to default on international debt payments for the first time in a century. Interest payments totalling $100 million on two bonds were originally due May 27 but carried a 30-day grace period. Russia has struggled to make such payments due to restrictions on its financial activities and sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February. Russia’s attack on Ukraine continued on Sunday when Russian forces launched new missile attacks on Ukraine’s two biggest cities, the capital of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least two apartment buildings in the city were hit, leaving at least one person dead and four others injured. Russia ramped up its use of cruise missiles, striking targets across northwestern Ukraine. Air raid sirens blared in several cities. “It’s more of their barbarism,” US President Joe Biden said of the Russian strike on Kyiv as he appeared at a G-7 welcoming ceremony with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a key focus of the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to address the meeting Monday. Biden said that the United States and the other G-7 economies will ban the import of Russian gold, the latest sanction imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth month.

Cameroonian Separatists Committed Gross Human Rights Violations: Report A Human Rights Watch report released Monday says separatists in Cameroon are increasingly brutal in their attacks. Human Rights Watch says separatists have committed murders and have

carried out at least 80 abductions since January. According to the report, separatists have killed at least seven people, injured six, raped a teenage girl, and committed other grave human rights abuses in the English-speaking western regions this year. The separatists also torched at least two schools, attacked a university and kidnapped people, including 33 students and five teachers, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s central Africa researcher, said an escalation in attacks on civilians, education and health had exacerbated an already dire human rights situation in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. “The separatist groups have kidnapped more than 80 people since January, and this figure is more likely underestimated compared to the reality on the ground, given the challenges of accessing the regions, but also the widespread fear among the victims to denounce because of possible retaliation and reprisals,” Allegrozzi said. “These are serious human rights abuses, and they continue in the context of increasing violence and impunity that facilitates and fuels other abuses.” HRW said in April, separatists stormed the University of Bamenda campus in the Northwest region, shooting in the air, causing panic among students and teachers, and leading to a stampede that injured at least five people. .

South Africa Police Investigating Deaths of 21 Teenagers in Bar South African authorities say the owner of a bar where at least 17 teenagers were found dead, and four others died while receiving medical care is expected to face charges. Police investigating the mysterious deaths in Eastern Cape province say they have not ruled out the possibility the teenagers were poisoned. South African police say they are investigating and awaiting autopsy results after the teenagers’ bodies were found at a bar early Sunday morning with no visible cause of death. Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana is a police spokesman. “Whilst we understand the urgency of this matter and the anxiety of the public, in particular the affected families who want answers. We urge that we allow sufficient time for our detectives to finalize those investigations. I must also add that we have not made any arrests at this stage,” he said. South African police say the owner is expected to face charges and have not ruled out the possibility that the teenagers were poisoned. Spokesman Kinana said half a dozen of the bodies were not immediately claimed.

Protesters in India Call for Release of Anti-Modi Activist

Protesters in India’s financial capital

Mumbai on Monday demanded the release of a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of faking documents about anti-Muslim riots in 2002. Teesta Setalvad is accused of tutoring witnesses, forging the documents and fabricating evidence in cases pertaining to the riots in Gujarat when Modi was state chief minister, according to police documents seen by Reuters. A lawyer for Setalvad could not immediately be reached for comment. Modi was accused of failing to stop the rioting when at least 1,000 people died under his watch. He denied the accusations and was exonerated in an Indian Supreme Court inquiry in 2012. Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed another petition questioning his exoneration. Setalvad, a leading rights activist, was detained from her residence in Mumbai on Saturday by police from Gujarat, taken to the neighbouring state, placed under formal arrest and sent to police custody until July 2. “Just because activists like her are fighting in the court of law doesn’t mean they should be put behind bars,” Nooruddin Naik, a protester, told Reuters.

WNBA Star Brittney Griner Ordered to Trial Friday in Russia

Shackled and looking wary, WNBA star Brittney Griner was ordered to stand trial Friday by a court near Moscow on cannabis possession charges, about 4 1/2 months after her arrest at an airport while returning to play for a Russian team. The Phoenix Mercury centre and two-time US Olympic gold medalist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. Griner could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the US, acquittals can be overturned. At Monday’s closed-door preliminary hearing at the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, Griner’s detention was extended for another six months. Photos obtained by The Associated Press showed the 31-year-old in handcuffs and looking straight ahead, unlike a previous court appearance where she kept her head down and covered with a hood. Her detention and trial come at an extraordinarily low point in MoscowWashington relations. She was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport less than a week before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, which aggravated already-high tensions with sweeping sanctions by the United States and Russia’s denunciation of US weapon supplies to Ukraine.

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Peter Obi and the Viability of a Third Force In the wake of a new political wave in the country, Emameh Gabriel dissects the political ingredients that Labour Party’s Peter Obi banks on to execute his presidential ambition come 2023.

ollowing Peter Obi’s defection weeks back from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Labour Party, there have been speculations of a possible merger with other political parties particulaly the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to form a “third force” to beat the two major parties in the country namely the All Progressive Congress (APC) and PDP. The idea of a third force has become a recurrent phenomena in every general election cycle since the successful merger in 2013 that metamorphosed into what is today the All Progressive Congress (APC). However, in 2019, that did not succeed largely because many of the so-called ‘third force’ candidates were perceived to be elements sponsored by either the PDP or APC. As 2023 draws closer, the country is yet again caught in another web of a Third Force- a wave that looks likely to upset the current political status quo. A careful observation of the developments across political parties, especially in the ruling APC where more defections seem likely in the next few weeks, shows that it will be a four horse race, baring any last minute re-alignments. Primary elections have come and gone and winners have emerged as they try to make inroads into the 2023 general elections, with the two major political parties, the ruling APC and main opposition PDP making frantic efforts to manage their intra party crises in other to avoid any implosion that could cost them the chances to either retain power beyond 2023 or return to power next year after almost eight years of playing opposition at the federal level. While former Lagos State governor and strongman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds the banner for his party, former vice president and serial contender, Atiku Abubakar, looks a strong contender for his party, the PDP, with former Anambra State governor Peter Obi similarly emerging as the presidential candidate of the hitherto relatively unknown Labour Party after dumping the PDP, where he was vice presidential candidate at the 2019 general election and Kwankwaso pushing the mandate of his newly found NNPP, it looks clearly like that election would indeed be keenly contested. The new entrants, Obi and Kwankwaso, who is building a strong bloc in the North, have cumulatively triggered a new wave of political migration and re-alignment by politicians schemed out and disaffected with the two major political parties. While Kwankwaso’s NNPP has become the beautiful bride for aggrieved politicians particularly in the Northeast and Northwest, Obi’s Labour Party is also witnessing a resurgence across the country as fresh faced and youthful politicians rally to what they now tagged, ‘Obi-dient’ call, compelling analysts and observers to opine that the movements could be the third force seeking to upstage the two dominant political parties, the APC and PDP. Obi’s defection from the PDP to Labour Party, allegedly because the main opposition party was unwilling to cede its presidential ticket to the Southeast, has without doubt attracted an unprecedented good will to Obi as Obi-Dient has become the reigning catchword, particularly on the social media, with calls for massive voters registration if Obi’s presidency is to become a reality. His entrance into the race on the platform of an unpopular party and the wave that greeted it thereafter, took many Nigerians by surprise, especially in a country where it is unlikely for an aspirant who is not running under the two major political parties to be a key contender in a presidential election. Like some analysts have asked before now. What could be Obi’s selling point? Is it because his region, South East, ideally ought to produce the next President of the country? Is it because of his style of politics or his past record in public office and style of governance? Could it be that his entrance into the race provoked the desires of millions of disenchanted youth and undecided voters, most of whom had hitherto wanted

Obi

to throw their weight behind the candidacy of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who they believe is one of the best for the country? Is religion dictating the tune for him? Obi As The Southeast Candidate? Obi himself appears to remain impressively overwhelmed in the face of the billowing adulation he enjoys today from his supporters, especially in the South East and among other Southerners in other parts of country and the world. Like some of his followers, the former Anambra State Governor is also weary of the hype. The fact that his unprecedented rise to fame has extended a little longer than expected, is somewhat surprising to the leading political parties in the country, as his movement continues to gain wider traction. The question of whether he stands or does not stand the chance to win the presidential election has become the obsessive talking point for Nigerians. Where lies Obi’s strength? Since after the 2019 general election, the issue of Igbo presidency in 2023 was largely viewed as a thorny one in both the APC and the PDP, especially in the light of the agitations for secession and violent attacks occasioned by the agitations in the region. Leaders from the region had consistently held that it’s the turn of the region to produce the next president, that anything short of that would further polarize the existing political arrangement and trust in the country. Stakeholders in the region had maintained that political parties

should micro-zone their presidential tickets to the region. In the PDP, the region pushed to produce the presidential candidate of the party, as leading politicians joined the push for power not only to come down South, but to the Southeast, on the argument that of all three dominant ethnic groups, only the Southeast Igbos are yet to enjoy their fair share of the underlying principle that has defined Nigeria’s politics since the start of the fourth republic. Sadly these wishes fell on deaf ear as both the ruling party and the opposition PDP opted for an open primary, a decision that paved the way for money bags to snatch the tickets of their respective political parties. Consequently, with Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as presidential flag bearers of both the APC and the PDP, many in the region consider Obi’s Labour Party move a deft one that deserves to be supported with every weight. It is in this regard that voters of most Igbo extraction in the South East, at the famous Alaba International Market in Lagos and across other regions of the country are mobilizing massively and have declared operation show your PVC in readiness to vote massively for the former Anambra State governor in next year’s presidential election. Last weekend, Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, a group also known as Ime-obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo berated the APC and the opposition PDP for their refusal to zone the presidency to the South-East region. The group also described Igbo delegates who voted against South-East aspirants in the presidential primaries for the 2023 election as “serial betrayals and shameless saboteurs”. In a statement issued in Abuja, Secretary of the group, Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, expressed disappoinment over the commercialization of the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, declaring that the South East would not vote the APC and PDP in 2023, “as they do not deserve

Obi’s defection from the PDP to Labour Party, allegedly because the main opposition party was unwilling to cede its presidential ticket to the Southeast, has without doubt attracted an unprecedented good will to Obi as Obi-Dient has become the reigning catchword, particularly on the social media, with calls for massive voters registration if Obi’s presidency is to become a reality. His entrance into the race on the platform of an unpopular party and the wave that greeted it thereafter, took many Nigerians by surprise, especially in a country where it is unlikely for an aspirant who is not running under the two major political parties to be a key contender in a presidential election

our votes anymore”. He said, “This will not happen again as the Igbo Elders shall provide a new leadership that will strengthen the Ohaneze leadership in Igbo land. Those betrayals will retire from politics shamefully and unceremoniously as they will never represent South East in any public service again. “We observed with grave concern the unprecedented monetisation of the recent political parties’ primary elections, especially the presidential election at which highest bidders emerged as presidential candidates. “More worrisome was the failure of the major political parties, namely, the ruling APC, and PDP, to zone the Presidency to the South East in keeping with the Federal Character principle and zoning arrangement as contained in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the various political parties constitutions for the sake of justice, equity, fairness, peace and stability of the country”, the statement further read. Obi as Possible Beneﬁciary of Christians’ Voters Obi is the most prominent Christian among the array of presidential aspirants across board and the only Christian among the projected leading quartet of parties for the 2023 presidential election. This would no doubt be one of his selling point to the Christian community in the country. Obi may be the one to reap from the suspicion of Christians about alleged marginalization in the national political space. This explains why Churches and other ecclesiastical bodies have joined the clamour for massive participation of citizens in the 2023 general elections. Pastors that have added their voices and admonished christians to get their PVCs in order to decide the outcome of the 2023 presidential election include Bishop David Abioye, the Vice President of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop John Ibenu, the General Overseer of the Chapel of Evangelical, Pastor Sarah Omakwu of Family Worship Centre and a host of others. Even popular Nigerian clergyman and General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeoye has launched “Operation SHOW YOUR PVC” in all the provinces of the church through a letter to his congregation. The letter read in part: “We refer to the above and wish to kindly inform you that we have received a directive from the Mission Authority to ensure a high level of sensitisation in all our parishes on the need for all our members to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. “Based on the above, Provincial Headquarters and Mega Parishes are encouraged to use their parish as a centre for one or two days to facilitate their members’ and interested neighbours’ registration considering the closeness of the deadline (June 30th, 2022) of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. “Provinces will be required to send a summarised report of parishes’ compliance with the above directive to the office of the undersigned, stating the number of adult members versus the number of PVCs counted. The report is expected on or before 27th June 2022, for onward compilation to the Mission Authority. On his part, Pastor Abioye, claimed that Christians are being marginalized in the country, alleging that most of the attacks carried out by those who he described as bloodthirsty bandits are targeted against the Christians. While asking members to vote candidates who would defend the Christians. He said: “Who are the people to vote for? First of all, vote for competence, vote for delivery. Who is it that can competently lead this nation? Who are the ones that can bring us out of the mess, killings, corruption? Find out but get your card ready. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

POLITICS

Situating July Governorship Poll in Osun The Osun State Governorship election scheduled for July 16, 2022 will be a straight battle between the incumbent, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adedayo Akinwale Reports

Oyetola

ast week, the the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulahi Adamu, inaugurated an 86-man National Campaign Council for Osun Governorship election scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022 with a stern warning that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party under his leadership has zero tolerance for failure. Shortly before then, the ruling party had recorded a smooth victory in the Ekiti state governorship election held on June 18 with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Biodun Oyebanji, as the winner of the contest. APC scored 187,057 votes to defeat its closest rival, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which garnered 82,211 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 67,457 botes APC is already aware that the Osun governorship poll is a different ball game and even more dicey. There are some factors and political realities which the opposition PDP had already cashed on to whip up sentiments which, at the moment, are working perfectly in its favour. It was against this background that Adamu gave a marching order to the campaign council that they should do everything possible within the law to win the election. He further stated that the campaign council should not come back crying as failure is not an option. “I was told that the governorship candidate of the opposition is a money bag. So we must be prepared to face him eyeball to eyeball. We are going there to win and that plan to win, the ability to execute the plan rests with the leadership that this council is going to provide in the campaign efforts. “I urge you to leave no stone unturned. I urge you to go there and do whatever is doable in the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria and Electoral law to win. My tolerance level and this national working committee level for failure is really really zero. Nobody should come back to us crying, failure is not our own by the grace of God. Whatever it takes within the laws of the land, I said go for it, win the election. Let them go complain, let them go wherever, let’s win the election. We have no apologies whatsoever for this posture because these two elections are best for the national election coming up in 2023,” The APC National Chairman had said. The forthcoming election will be a repetition of what happened in 2018, which was obviously a straight battle between Oyetola and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP. It would be recalled that in 2018, the PDP was already coasting to victory when the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive and subsequently fixed a date for the rerun election. But the APC emerged victorious during the rerun election. Initially, the indigenes of the state and political observers were angry because they believed the election was rigged, but for years on, their anger has been assuaged with the modest achievements of Oyetola.

Yakubu

Oyetola’s Scorecard FourYears On After four years of steering the ship of the state, Oyetola has recorded modest achievements that will put him in a better stead to win a reelection. Some notable achievements recorded include Construction of a 120-bed ward at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo which is 95 per cent completed; Construction of 30 units of Doctors’ Quarters at the state specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, 90 per cent completion; Rehabilitation and renovation of Trauma centre, New Theatre Complex, Children’s Ward, Main Laboratory, Blood Bank Building and Surgical Ward at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, which has been completed; Renovation and Rehabilitation of Government House Clinic and the State Secretariat Staff Clinic, Abere, which had been completed; and release of N477.9 million as premium for the enrolment of vulnerable citizens of the state into the Osun Health Insurance (O’HIS) Scheme. Others are: construction of N2.7 billion Ola Iya flyover; reconstruction of the 13.15km Ada-Igbajo township road; which was abandoned for 33 years; Construction of 25km EdeAra-Ejigbo road; Construction of 8.1km Moro-Yakoyo-IpetumoduAsipa road, which was abandoned for 45 years; Ada-Igbajo road which was literally forsaken for 33 years; roads in the Akindeko-AwosuruAlekuwodo area; Osogbo-KelebeIragbiji road as well as the 20km Ejigbo-Ara Junction-Ede road. Also, the rehabilitation of IkirunEkoende Road, State of Osun 2.5km; Rehabilitation of Aagba road 1.83km; rehabilitation of 1.8km Itaasin (St.

Adeleke

Stephen) -Our Lady’s School -Police Divisional Headquarters, Modakeke -Famia Road; Construction of 30km Gbongan - Akoda Road (Federal road); Total Overlay of 6.092km Ikirun (Idi Esu) R/A- Iragbiji Road; rehabilitation of Osogbo- Kelebe- Iragbiji Road, including extension to 28.09km Idi-Odan-Anaye-Araromi and rehabilitation of 3.75km Chief Adebisi Akande/ Olajokun Park-Adenuga junction -Oke Church Olufi Market Gbongan, among others. Oyetola also recently approved rehabilitation of 25 roads totalling 200 kilometres across the state of the living spring. The odds against Oyetola One of the major factors that will work against Oyetola in the July 16 election is the disruption of the zoning arrangement in the state. In 2018, it was a known secret that it was the turn of Osun West to produce the next governor of the state. In fairness to Aregbesola, he agreed with the unwritten but respected zoning arrangement until the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, who is now the presidential candidate of APC, insisted on installing Oyetola, from Osun Central, as the governor of the state. The clear disregard to the zoning arrangement made the victory of Oyetola a tough one. Understandably, all the stakeholders in the state agreed that it was indeed the turn of Osun West. Since the commencement of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Osun East had produced the state governor in the person of Aregbesola, while Osun Central had also produced Chief Bisi Akande and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as governors. The last time Osun West produced a governor was during the administration of late Isiaka Adeleke in the ill-fated Third Republic in 1992. It was based on the renegade on the zoning arrangement that angered the people of Osun and coupled with the fact that Tinubu wants to maintain a firm grip on Osun the same he has done in Lagos over the years. Expectedly, this was why the people Osun made a statement in

One of the major factors that will work against Oyetola in the July 16 election is the disruption of the zoning arrangement in the state. In 2018, it was a known secret that it was the turn of Osun West to produce the next governor of the state. In fairness to Aregbesola, he agreed with the unwritten but respected zoning arrangement until the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, who is now the presidential candidate of APC, insisted on installing Oyetola, from Osun Central, as the governor of the state

2918 and still want to make a statement in the forthcoming election that Osun is not Lagos. Oyetola’s faceoff with Aregbesola Aside this, it’s a known secret that his predecessor in office and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola is opposed to the reelection of Oyetola. Though, Aregbesola has not really stated categorically what Oyetola has done wrong, but he had claimed the incumbent governor was witch-hunting him. He, however, failed to point out how he was being witch hunted. Aregbesola further claimed Oyetola abandoned his progressives ideals. “There is no harm in replacing someone who is not doing well and not in tandem with progressive ideals. That is what we are working on and that is why we have come to you. I worked very hard to ensure Oyetola’s election. It was, however, a rude shock when he got into office and started a grand witch-hunt against me,” Aregbesola had said. Interestingly, the progressives ideals Aregbesola made reference to remains a surprise to watchers of political events, considering the fact that in 2018, the former Governor left a debt profile of N170.6 billion. This is made up of N141.1 billion domestic debt and N29.5 billion multilateral (external) debt. No thanks to Aregbesola, Osun state is now neck deeper in debt. Moreso, the statistics released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) in March, 2022 revealed that Osun state has been able to reduce the debt to the sum of N134 billion. This showed that Oyetola has paid the sum of N36 billion out of the debt accumulated by Aregbesola. Despite this, Oyetola has continued to pay workers salaries, unlike what was obtainable during Aregbesola’s administration where workers were owed several months of salaries and in some cases where salaries were paid, the workers were forced to receive half salaries, after the administration of Aregbesola weaponised hunger against the civil servants. Political analysts were tempted to ask if the progressive ideals that Aregbesola wants Oyetola to maintain was that of payment of half salaries or accumulating mountains of debts for future generations, or the demolition of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, which gave way for a mega store. But, like Oyetola or hate him, he has not borrowed a dime after four years in office and has also kept his promise to the people of the state. Although, some members of the National Assembly who were perceived to be loyalists of Aregbesola were denied tickets during the party’s recent primaries in the state, stakeholders in the state said those denied tickets are very popular and have a lot of followers, and believed that the action was a political miscalculation on the part of the governor. Others were, however, of the opinion that it was politically expedient for the Governor to take such a decision. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S DJune AY 28, TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 Tuesday 2022 Vol 27. No 9942

19 TR

See page 20 BALA MOHAMMED: NIGERIA’S LOSS, BAUCHI’S GAIN EMMA AGU writes that the Bauchi governor is highly valued by his people

See page 20 INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT IS SOLUTION TO HIGH INFLATION F. E. OGBIMI contends that increasing interest rate does not reduce inflation, but increasing employment See page 21 NIGERIA 2023: THE TUNNEL OF REALITY All is not well with Nigeria, writes CHARLES DICKSON See page 21 EDITORIAL THE MONEY-FOR-BALLOT SYNDROME

See page 22

& RE A S O

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

OF NIGERIA OIL EXPORTS AND FUEL CRISIS The country must explore other avenues to make the economy viable, argues FELIX OLADEJI

UT H

Peter Obi has done a great job of riding on the current wave of public anger against “structures” and, by extension, APC and PDP, writes PAUL NWABUIKWU

THE STRUCTURE IS DEAD; LONG LIVE THE STRUCTURE! Young Nigerians in the burgeoning Peter Obi political warship, currently berthed in the Labour Party, are not impressed by suggestions that their VXSSRUW IRU WKH ÁHGJOLQJ SDUW\ DQG WKH former Anambra State governor is “a waste” because there is no “structure” to translate their enthusiastic support into electoral victory. On social media, they have responding with dripping disdain and creative contempt. In tweets, posts, short videos and skits, WKH\ DUH JLYLQJ WKH PLGGOH ÀQJHU WR WKRVH PRFNLQJ WKHLU HͿRUWV LQVLVWLQJ WKDW structure or no structure, the movement will deliver President Peter Gregory Obi on May 29, 2023. Propelled by audacity and an infectious passion, the Obidient brigade has no time for doubters in their blistering campaign to upend the Nigerian political system and recreate it in the image of their hero. <RX FDQQRW KHOS EXW UHVSHFW WKHLU HͿRUWV It is not an exaggeration to say that the Peter Obi movement is unprecedented. Nigeria has had many charismatic politicians with a talent for moving crowds in the past. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Samuel Akintola, Aminu Kano, Bola Ige, K.O. Mbadiwe are a few examples. But an outsider with a message of technocratic capacity and “revolutionary IUXJDOLW\µ ZKR ÁDXQWV KLV DYHUVLRQ to giving bribes in a country where PRQH\ SROLWLFV UHLJQV LV GHÀQLWHO\ D QHZ phenomenon. When you hear youths, many unemployed, screaming “we no dey give VKLVKLµ LQ DJUHHPHQW ZLWK WKH 2EL ÁDYRXU of politics, you know something fresh, something potentially revolutionary may EH LQ WKH R΀QJ But the supporters of the former governor, a charismatic speaker with a high voice and folksy charm, are not the only Nigerians who have little faith in current political party strcutures dominated by two main parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC). Popular Abuja clergywoman and head of the Family Worship Centre, Pastor Sarah Omakwu also shares the contempt of Obi’s supporters for a political system that has failed to deliver a decent life for the vast majority of Nigerians in a society where things are falling apart and YLUWXDOO\ HYHU\ 1LJHULDQ ZKR FDQ DͿRUG to is escaping abroad. She took the mutiny against conventional political structures a notch higher last week. In a trending video, she declared to the roaring endorsement of the congregation: “you are going to get

your PVC, and we are going to waste our votes!”, adding “Where ever there is (political party) structure, don’t vote.” Omakwu was not done yet. “Structure has taken away power from us, structure does not have electricity, structure is killing people, structure has left us jobless, structure has killed us; so, we will be structureless and we shall waste our votes”, she thundered. She then made a clear pitch for “the candidate that they say doesn’t have structure”, even though she did not identify Obi by name. Given that the two main parties have collectively monopolized power since the commencement of the current Republic in 1999, and the country is in currently going through serious, even existential economic and political challenges, it is not surprising that Nigerians are angry with them for producing “leaders” who have wrecked our dreams. The hostility to the PDP-APC duopoly is therefore understandable. But the truth about “structures”, “vote wasting” and the journey to our present awful situation is a bit more nuanced. First, it is not possible to do without structures in any political system. The functions, the rituals and the ceremonies of liberal democracy require structures for education, mobilization, engagement, campaigning, voting and the other processes that culminate in producing HOHFWHG OHDGHUV DW GLͿHUHQW OHYHOV DQG GHPRFUDWLF JRYHUQDQFH IRU D VSHFLÀHG period. Modern political parties, along with electoral and parliamentary systems began in Europe and America in the 19th century, have become a critical component of the process. Since citizens cannot congregate in a village square to point out their preferred leaders, political parties are an absolutely

necessity. In fact, even a “village square democracy” like the robust communalist versions in Igbo land still requires structures. Without them, “wasting votes” would be a moot point because you need structures to vote and make YRWHV FRXQW LQ WKH ÀUVW SODFH ,Q WKH ÀQDO DQDO\VLV WKH KRVWLOLW\ WR “structures” is not a rejection of structures per se but a rejection of the dominance of the two main parties whose performance falls far short of the expectation of Nigerians. Nigerians want to break the stranglehold of political parties which are better known for serving godfathers rather than citizens; whose most active members are corrupt “chieftains” and thugs; parties which encourage the large-scale stealing of public funds at the expense of the public good; which help to sabotage the aspirations for a greater nation and leave our collective dreams in the dust. Peter Obi has done a great job of riding on the current wave of public anger against “structures” and, by extension, APC and PDP, by declaring that “the people are the structures”. In other words, he is working to create room for a structure to cater for his escalating number of supporters. Thus the ongoing discussions with Rabiu Kwankwaso’s NNDP to a new structure to take on and defeat the APC and PDP behemoths. It’s the most sensible approach because in the a system where region, religion and ethnicity remain the main “ideologies”, no politician, however popular, can bridge the chasms and win the presidency without such alliances. The second point is that the it is not totally true that structures have always failed. PDP has lately become an underperforming and uninspiring opposition party but under Obasanjo especially, the party delivered an economic renaissance after the terrible military years that improved the lives of Nigerians and boosted economic opportunities for the private sector. In fact, it could be argued that the failure of “structures” is largely a post-2015 phenomenon. But of course, these kinds of distinctions are not very popular right now because Nigerians are simply too hungry and angry to listen. More important, the awful performance of PDP governors like Okezie Ikpeazu and is fresher in the public memory than the party’s past exploits. Underperforming “structures” cannot expect to retain public goodwill. Democracy doesn’t work that way. Paul Nwabuikwu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

2 20

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

The country must explore other avenues to make the economy viable, argues FELIX OLADEJI

EMMA AGU writes that the Bauchi governor is highly valued by his people

OF NIGERIA OIL EXPORTS AND FUEL CRISIS

BALA MOHAMMED: NIGERIA’S LOSS, BAUCHI’S GAIN

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LQ OLQH ZLWK KLV HDUOLHU SOHGJH WR VXSSRUW ZKRHYHU HPHUJHG DV WKH FDQGLGDWH RI WKH 3'3 %DOD 0RKDPPHG KDV VLQFH WKURZQ KLV ZHLJKW EHKLQG IRUPHU 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW $WLNX $EXEDNDU ZKR ZLOO Á\ WKH ÁDJ RI WKH SDUW\ DW WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQ 1DWXUDOO\ WKDW GHYHORSPHQW KDV JODGGHQHG WKH KHDUWV RI PDQ\ LQ %DXFKL Though not expressly communicated, WKH ERG\ ODQJXDJH RI PDQ\ D %DXFKL VXSSRUWHU RI %DOD 0RKDPPHG HYHQ during the consultations before the presidential primary, had suggested an

inclination to dissuade him from running IRU 3UHVLGHQW 7R WKHP KLV DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ KDG UHVHW %DXFKL 6WDWH IRU JUHDWHU KHLJKWV His high-minded inclusion policy, the breath-taking infrastructural projects, the SHRSOH HPSRZHUPHQW SURJUDPPHV RI his administration, the revival of social LQIUDVWUXFWXUH E\ ZD\ RI ZDWHU KHDOWK DQG HGXFDWLRQ DQG WKH XUEDQ UHQHZDO SURMHFWV WKDW DUH UHGHÀQLQJ WKH %DXFKL ODQGVFDSH DOO UHVRQDWH YHU\ ZHOO ZLWK D people that had long resigned themselves WR DUURJDQFH RI SRZHU IHVWHUHG E\ WKRVH ZKR KDG FRQVLJQHG WKH VWDWH WR WKH EDFNZDWHUV RI GHYHORSPHQW /LWWOH ZRQGHU WKDW D PDMRU UHVHUYDWLRQ GXULQJ %DOD 0RKDPPHG·V FRQVXOWDWLRQ ZLWK YDULRXV VWDNHKROGHU JURXSV SULRU WR WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO SULPDU\ ZDV WKH IDWH RI WKH %DXFKL HOHFWRUDWH ZKRVH FRQÀGHQFH in government had been restored, thanks WR WKH SDUDGLJP VKLIW LQWURGXFHG E\ %DOD 0RKDPPHG ,Q WKHLU LQWHUYHQWLRQV DW WKH FRQVXOWDWLYH PHHWLQJ ZLWK WKH %RDUG RI 7UXVWHHV %27 RI WKH SDUW\ IRUPHU *RYHUQRU RI -LJDZD 6WDWH $OKDML 6XOH /DPLGR DQG 6HQDWRU $EGXO 1LQJL IURP %DXFKL ERWK H[WROOHG %DOD 0RKDPPHG·V OHDGHUVKLS DQG FRXQVHOOHG WKDW LW ZRXOG further the course of democracy if he ran IRU UH HOHFWLRQ ZKLFK WKH\ VDLG KH ZRXOG JHW There is the temptation to think that both Lamido and Ningi could have EHHQ VHOI VHUYLQJ VLQFH WKH\ ZHUH NQRZQ SURPRWHUV RI WKH $WLNX FDQGLGDF\ 7KDW LV SRVVLEOH %XW DVVXPLQJ ZLWKRXW FRQFHGLQJ WKDW WKH\ ZHUH OHVV WKDQ IRUWKULJKW ZKHUH GR ZH SODFH WKH DFFRODGHV RI 3UHVLGHQW 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL IRU %DOD 0RKDPPHG"

Agu is a media veteran and fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

T H I S D AY TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

F. E. OGBIMI contends that increasing interest rate does not reduce inflation, but increasing employment

All is not well with Nigeria, writes CHARLES DICKSON

INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT IS SOLUTION TO HIGH INFLATION :H NQRZ WKHUH DUH SHUVLVWHQW LQÁDWLRQ pressure in low-productivity-, one-sectoragricultural-artisan African economies, especially Nigeria’s. We are also hearing RI LQÁDWLRQ SUHVVXUH LQ WKH WHFKQRORJLFDOO\ advanced economies in Europe, America and Asia. We are also hearing that Central Banks all over the world are meeting to increase interest rates as they always do. Indeed, the United States of America’s Federal Reserve Bank has increased interest rate by 0.75 per cent. Economists and other social scientists, accountants, bankers, etc., who populate central banks and related global institutions like the World Bank and IMF as they do always, are wrong in suggesting that interest rates be increased as VROXWLRQ WR LQÁDWLRQ /DFN RI VHQVH RI KLVWRU\ and lack of understanding of the science which underlies the economic development process, are two of many debilitating reasons economists and related experts cannot manage our economies well. Economists and their friends do not understand how a national economy works. They merely deify money and see the economy inside the bank rather than see the bank inside the economy. 2XU WKHRU\ RI HPSOR\PHQW ´6ROXWLRQ to Co-Existent Low Productivity, High 8QHPSOR\PHQW DQG +LJK ,QÁDWLRQ (Ogbimi, 1995),” published in the Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies (NJSS), Vol. 37, No.2,3, pp, 223-251, which revealed the relationships among HPSOR\PHQW SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG LQÁDWLRQ showed clearly that large increase in employment (in quantity and quality) and consequent improvement in productivity or SURGXFWLRQ LV WKH WUXH DQWLGRWH WR LQÁDWLRQ Of the three fundamental variables that characterize the economy: employment, SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG LQÁDWLRQ HPSOR\PHQW is the independent variable while SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG LQÁDWLRQ WRJHWKHU DUH the dependent variables. That means that the statuses of production/productivity DQG LQÁDWLRQ LQ DQ HFRQRP\ DUH DOZD\V determined by the level of employment in LW 7KH WKHRU\ DOVR VKRZHG WKDW WKH LQÁDWLRQ curve is the image of the productivity curve DQG YLFH YHUVD 7KH LQÁDWLRQ FXUYH LV D parabola (bell-shaped curve opened up) resting on top of the productivity hypabola (bell-shaped curve opened down) and vice versa. Our theory of employment therefore demonstrated that employment (in quantity and quality) is the blood of the economy. Large increase in employment leads to large increase in the knowledge, skills and competences available and being applied in the economy. These in turn lead to increase in productivity/production and reduction LQ LQÁDWLRQ Our theory of employment also showed that any economy may be in one of three statuses. The statuses are: Low Productivity, Low Employment (High Unemployment) DQG +LJK ,QÁDWLRQ RWKHUZLVH NQRZQ DV VWDJÁDWLRQ RQH 2SWLPXP 3URGXFWLYLW\ High Employment (Low Unemployment) DQG 0LQLPXP ,QÁDWLRQ WZR DQG /RZ Productivity, Full Employment and High ,QÁDWLRQ ,,, Quite importantly, the analysis showed that in the region between position one and two, increase in employment leads to increase in productivity and decrease LQ LQÁDWLRQ 7KDW LV LPSURYHPHQW LQ SURGXFWLYLW\ LV WKH WUXH DQWLGRWH WR LQÁDWLRQ In the region between position two and position three, increase in employment leads

to decrease in productivity and increase in LQÁDWLRQ 7KLV LV WKH UHJLRQ 3KLOOLSV FODLPHG WR KDYH LGHQWLÀHG LQ LVRODWLRQ ,W has since been wrongly applied: promoting retrenchment when increase in employment should be promoted in low productivity-, one-sector-, artisan-agricultural African economies that have long been experiencing mass unemployment, by the World Bank and IMF. Nigeria and other African nations DUH LQ VWDWXV , ² VWDJÁDWLRQ ZKLOH WKH technologically advanced nations (the industrialised) are between position I and position II. The management of an economy from one fundamental position to another, say from I to II, is a transformation from an undesirable status into a desirable status. Economists were brought up to believe that money (capital) play very important role in the economic development of a nation (De-Fleur, et al., 19977). Consequently, they either do not know or do not understand the implication of the historical evidence that all the rich nations in Europe, America and Asia were poor village-nations (like the poor nations in Africa today) for many centuries during which they learnt very slowly and achieved industrialization before becoming rich. Hence, promoting industrialization is the most important factor for reducing poverty in the developing nations. Because economists do not understand the relationship among HPSOR\PHQW SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG LQÁDWLRQ LQ an economy, they do not know that one or two of the variables cannot be dealt with in isolation. Our theory of employment is a FRQÀUPDWLRQ RI RXU DOJHEUDLF WKHRU\ RI industrialisation based on the observation that the intrinsic value of the learningperson appreciates with learning rate and WLPH WKH OHDUQLQJ SHUVRQ LV DQ DSSUHFLDWLQJ asset (AA) which the growth may be modelled by a growing function like the compound interest formula. Scaling of the basic equation demonstrated that the Sustainable Economic Growth and Industrialisation (SEGI) process of a society PD\ EH PRGHOOHG E\ ÀYH OHDUQLQJ UHODWHG variables. The variables are (Ogbimi, 1996): Ni, the number of people involved in productive activities or employment OHYHO LQ WKH QDWLRQ 0RM WKH OHYHO RI education/training of the people in the nation and those involved in productive DFWLYLWLHV /N WKH OLQNDJHV DPRQJ WKH knowledge, skills, competences and sectors LQ WKH HFRQRP\ UL WKH OHDUQLQJ UDWH RU intensity in the economy, especially that of WKH ZRUNIRUFH DQG QS WKH H[SHULHQFH RI the workforce and the learning history of the society. All of these variables are related to the learning-people and they are directly related to the economic strength of the economy. This means that the more the number of people involved in productive activities, the higher the average education/ training of the people/workforce, the more the linkages among the knowledge, skills and competences possessed by the people/ workforce and society or by the sectors of the economy, the higher the learning rate in the society and among the workforce and the more the learning experience of the society and workforce, the more productive the economy becomes. fogbimi@yahoo.com)

NIGERIA 2023: THE TUNNEL OF REALITY the military heroes, Arlington is also the ÀQDO UHVWLQJ SODFH IRU D VHOHFW QXPEHU of presidents, astronauts, senators, and Supreme Court justices. Founded during the dark days of the Civil War, the cemetery now contains the remains of military personnel from every American war — from the Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan. But what about those of us who have never been called upon to lay down our lives in battle? Is the whole concept of ´VDFULÀFHµ VRPHWKLQJ IRU RWKHUV DQG QRW IRU us? No! 6DFULÀFH LVQ·W MXVW VRPH GUDPDWLF ÀQDO DFW RI KHURLVP 6DFULÀFH LV DOVR OD\LQJ GRZQ RXU SULYLOHJHV EHQHÀWV DQG SOHDVXUHV IRU the good of someone else. Nigeria and Nigerians are torn deeply by terrible segregated, divided, dichotomous, ethnic and religious schisms. The nation has as much as one million tunnels of reality. With barely a handful willing to PDNH D VDFULÀFH IRU D QHZ UHDOLW\ We need to come to grips As we approach 2023, very few persons are thinking, and by thinking, I mean this with realities of the THINK stands for: moment which point to the T--True: Is what I write true? H--Helpful: Is what I say or do helpful? inevitabilities of the future, I--Inspiring: Is what I do, write and say, because time is running out, inspiring? N--Necessary: Is what I do say, or write for us to initiate entry into a necessary? K--Kind: Are my actions, words kind to tunnel of social revolution. others? Are we ready, only time will I as a matter of me look at issues from the larger picture. I do not just dabble into tell. matters, I THINK, I look beyond sophistry, anchored more on bare-face political partisanship, and ethnicity or group to us are the building material for the tunnel D΀OLDWLRQ , OHDYH URRP IRU KXPDQ IUDLOWLHV of reality. And that’s why people react but I THINK before I write or talk. Whether Atiku, Peter Obi, Wike, Buhari GLͿHUHQWO\ WR WKH VDPH WKLQJV Take Leonardo da Vinci’s legendary or GEJ, Fulanis and the South, all are SDLQWLQJ ´*LRFRQGD µ $V \RX ORRN DW LW situated in dichotomies, APC is a Muslim one person will notice the enigmatic smile, party, does it make PDP any Christian? Our another will notice the mathematical tunnel of reality is not a subject within the perfection in it. And the third will see a shores of this nation that one talks about complete woman without eyebrows. And without understanding, it evokes a lot of none of this trio is wrong - they all live in passions from the heated arguments which their tunnels and sincerely believe they are it generates, everyone holding dear to their values, and idiosyncrasies. right. Again with 2023, our propensity to think And all because, according to the theory of tunnels, there is no single truth. And cannot as easterners, westerners, northerners, H[LVW (VFDSLQJ IURP \RXU WXQQHO LV GL΀FXOW middle belters, all depending on the turns It is like a well-trodden path: comfortable of event comes to bear. Every nation has countless tunnels or and familiar. Each exit from the tunnel is unusual, the other, if it is not the north vs south, it dangerous and unpleasant - but it’s in these is versus blocs, religion or even ideological moments that real creativity happens, in dichotomies. There are several reasons these moments you can become a creator why such tunnels exist. Sometimes it is a who creates a completely new, unique function of creation or political correctness reality. Nigeria is at a verge, 2023 presents an like we have in the Nigerian case. In our sensationalism, we have in opportunity, and a new reality, if we take it, every sense approached most problems remains to be seen. Looking out across the rolling wooded sectionally thereby creating all kinds of acres of Arlington National Cemetery, with unnecessary petty-culture-ethnic-religiousits hundreds of thousands of white stones in parapoism and bourgeois mentality in perfectly ordered rows, brings an assortment dealing with our national issues. Tunnels and dichotomies are one that of emotions that are impossible to escape. Sadness. Desolation. Pride of country. Anger is used by political apologists as a socioover so many lost young lives. The stones economic weapon. Apart from the positive, represent tremendous loss as well as the gift our dichotomy has been used to exploit of freedom we are able to enjoy. and bamboozle the masses without major Arlington National Cemetery is a United consideration being given to the dynamics States military cemetery located across the of the law of development which in essence Potomac River from Washington, D.C., in GHDOV VFLHQWLÀFDOO\ ZLWK WKH XQLW\ DQG Arlington County, Virginia. Within its 624 struggle of opportunities and opposites. acres, over four hundred thousand activeduty service members, veterans, and their Dr Dickson families have been buried. In addition to is a Development and Media Practitioner If you must buy a baboon don’t buy the one with a 10% discount. Reality is a construct. At the beginning of the year, I had promised that for 12 months, In Shaa Allah, I will once a month X-ray the issues around the forthcoming General Elections in the world’s largest black population and sufacracy. This is number six, and six more to go. So, there’s this theory we call the theory of the reality tunnel. The reality tunnel is a theory that, with a subconscious set RI PHQWDO ÀOWHUV IRUPHG IURP EHOLHIV DQG experiences, every individual interprets the VDPH ZRUOG GLͿHUHQWO\ KHQFH ´7UXWK LV LQ WKH eye of the beholder”. It is similar to the idea of representative realism, and was coined by Timothy Leary. According to the theory, humans see the ZRUOG WKURXJK WKH ÀOWHUV RI WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV and beliefs. Upbringing, education, all the joys and failures that have ever happened

22 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

THE MONEY-FOR-BALLOT SYNDROME Though the Ekiti election was relatively free, buying of votes has become part Nigeria’s political process

QRWLFHG PRVWO\ E\ VHYHUDO À HOG REVHUYHUV DOO WKH he Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election has WKUHH OHDGLQJ SDUWLHV LQ WKH HOHFWLRQ ZHUH LQYROYHG LQ comeandgone,leavinginitstrailthesordid WKLV GHVSLFDEOH DFW ZKLFK XQGHUVFRUHV WKH H[WHQW RI and unsavory issue of vote buying. But SRYHUW\ DQG LOOLWHUDF\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH YLOODJHV DQG À UVW ZH À UVW FRPPHQG WKH ,QGHSHQGHQW ORFDO FRPPXQLWLHV ,W LV WUXH WKDW PRVW UXUDO GZHOOHUV 1DWLRQDO (OHFWRUDO &RPPLVVLRQ ,1(& ORRN IRUZDUG WR HOHFWLRQ SHULRG DV D WLPH WR JHW for organising one of the best elections VRPHWKLQJ RͿ WKH SROLWLFLDQV ZKR XVXDOO\ DEVFRQG VR IDU 7KH HQWLUH SURFHVV ZDV GHYRLG RI WKH DJH DQG RQO\ UHWXUQ DW WKH QH[W HOHFWLRQ F\FOH ORQJ LVVXHV RI EDOORW VQDWFKLQJ PXOWLSOH YRWLQJ ODWH :H DUH GHOLJKWHG WKDW ,1(& LV QRW OLYLQJ LQ GHQLDO arrivals of voting materials, violence etc. And, as it DERXW WKLV XJO\ GHYHORSPHQW WKDW LV PDNLQJ D has attested to by many stakeholders including the mockery of democracy as contestants engage one 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 0LVVLRQ WR 1LJHULD WKH QHZO\ DGRSWHG DQRWKHU LQ À QDQFLDO VKRRW RXWV WR VHFXUH SRZHU EL PRGDO YHULÀ FDWLRQ DFFUHGLWDWLRQ V\VWHP %9$6 DW DOO FRVWV $V ZH KDYH ÍXQFWLRQHG SURSHUO\ UHLWHUDWHG RQ WKLV SDJH in the vast majority of several times, elections SROOLQJ VWDWLRQV µ $OVR QHHG QRW WR EH D ]HUR VXP IRU WKH À UVW WLPH EHIRUH JDPH WKDW ZRXOG LQYROYH Yet until Nigerian politicians begin to imbibe a culture that PLGQLJKW WKH SHRSOH WKH GHSOR\PHQW RI FDVK DV RI (NLWL SHRSOH DOUHDG\ reflects and promotes good governance, transparency and ZDV ZLWQHVVHG LQ WKH (NLWL NQHZ ZKR WKHLU QH[W JXEHUQDWRULDO SROO ODVW JRYHUQRU ZRXOG EH accountability, our democracy will remain imperilled ZHHN :H PXVW RI FRXUVH +RZHYHU WKH XVH add that such recourse to RI PRQH\ WKDW ZDV À QDQFLDO LQGXFHPHQW LV SUHYDOHQW FRQVWLWXWHV QRW QHZ LQ 1LJHULD RQO\ an abuse of the WKDW WKH HQWUHSUHQHXUV RI YRWH EX\LQJ KDYH QRZ FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKW RI WKH SHRSOH WR FKRRVH become very brazen. their leaders in a free, fair and credible manner. T H I S D AY ,W LV LQGHHG VDG WKDW RXU GHPRFUDF\ KDV WRGD\ ORVW 3DUWLFXODUO\ GLVWXUELQJ LV WKDW ZKDW WUDQVSLUHG ZDV EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU LWV VKDSH HVVHQWLDOO\ EHFDXVH WKH SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA D UHSHDW RI ZKDW KDSSHQHG H[DFWO\ IRXU \HDUV DJR MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO ZDQW WR EH GHPRFUDWLF LQ D PDQQHU WKDW DGYDQFHV GXULQJ WKH SUHYLRXV JXEHUQDWRULDO HOHFWLRQ LQ WKH DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU RQO\ WKH SHUVRQDO LQWHUHVWV RI VRPH OHDGHUV DQG QRW VWDWH ,Q WKH UHSRUW RI WKH FRDOLWLRQ RI ORFDO DQG CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI WKDW RI WKH VRFLHW\ <HW XQWLO 1LJHULDQ SROLWLFLDQV international observers on the election attested to EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN EHJLQ WR LPELEH D FXOWXUH WKDW UHÁ HFWV DQG SURPRWHV D SUHYDOHQFH RI YRWH EX\LQJ 2QH RI WKH REVHUYHUV MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI JRRG JRYHUQDQFH WUDQVSDUHQF\ DQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\ 0UV 9LUJLQLD 0DUXPRD *DH RI WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV· THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE RXU GHPRFUDF\ ZLOO UHPDLQ LPSHULOOHG 7KHUHIRUH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HSXEOLFDQ ,QVWLWXWH ,5, KDG SDLQWHG FXUELQJ YRWH EX\LQJ À QDQFLDO LQGXFHPHQW DQG WKH D GLVJUDFHIXO SLFWXUH RI KRZ WKH VORJDQ ´VHH DQG JHQHUDO GHSOR\PHQW RI FDVK WR JDPH WKH HOHFWRUDO EX\µ ZDV XVHG WR OXUH YRWHUV WR VKRZ WKHLU WKXPE T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D SURFHVV LV FULWLFDO WR WKH VXUYLYDO RI RXU GHPRFUDF\ SULQWHG EDOORW SDSHUV LQ H[FKDQJH IRU PRQH\ ,Q D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA 7KLV PDOIHDVDQFH PXVW QRW EH DOORZHG WR WDFLW FRQÀ UPDWLRQ RI WKLV XJO\ GHYHORSPHQW DW WKH GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, FRQWLQXH 9RWH EX\LQJ XQGHUPLQHV WKH HVVHQFH RI WLPH ,1(& QDWLRQDO FRPPLVVLRQHU DQG FKDLU RI LWV ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI democratic freedom to choose, robs the electoral OHJDO VHUYLFHV FRPPLWWHH 0D\ $JEDPXFKH 0EX DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, SURFHVV RI PRUDO FUHGLELOLW\ DQG GHQLHV LWV RXWFRPH ANTHONY OGEDENGBE VDLG SROLWLFLDQV LQYROYHG LQ WKH VRUGLG SUDFWLFH ´ZHUH DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI OHJLWLPDF\ *RLQJ IRUZDUG WKHUHIRUH WKH IHGHUDO FOHYHU µ DERXW LW %XW WKLV LV D SUREOHP WKDW LV EH\RQG SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH government and its enforcement arms must design ,1(& ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI 7KH LVVXH RI YRWH EX\LQJ W\SLÀ HV WKH H[WHQW RI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI FRQFUHWH VWUDWHJLHV WR GHDO ZLWK WKLV FULPH LQ VXFK D ZD\ WKDW LW GHWHUV SRWHQWLDO YLRODWRUV RI WKH ODZ $ SRYHUW\ LQ RXU FRXQWU\ 7KRVH LQYROYHG LQ WUDGLQJ DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO VWDUWLQJ SRLQW LV WR DSSUHKHQG DOO NQRZQ RͿ HQGHUV WKHLU YRWHV DUH PRVWO\ WKH SRRU DJHG SHRSOH TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com IRU SURVHFXWLRQ XQHPSOR\HG \RXWKV DUWLVDQV DQG VWXGHQWV $V

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LETTERS NIGERIANS AREN’T TAKING ELECTIONS SERIOUSLY $V D ELQJH ZDWFKHU RI SUHVLGHQWLDO GHEDWHV , PXVW KDYH ZDWFKHG KXQGUHGV RI GLͿ HUHQW GHEDWHV URXQG WKH ZRUOG DQG RQH UHDOO\ VWRRG RXW IRU PH ,W ZDV WKH .HQQHG\ 96 1L[RQ À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leaders are not concerned about the issues. , PXVW UHSHDW LVVXH EDVHG SROLWLFV LV WKH RQO\ SROLWLFV WKDW FDQ EULQJ UHVXOWV LQ 1LJHULD 2XU FRXQWU\ LV FXUUHQWO\ LQXQ GDWHG ZLWK PDVVLYH LQVHFXULW\ DQG HFRQRPLF ZRHV RXU GHEW levels are rising and subsidies are destroying our means of livelihood. The subsidies that the government hitherto FDOOHG D VFDP KDV QRZ EHFRPH WKH ELJ HOHSKDQW LQ WKH URRP 2XU HFRQRPLF PLVPDQDJHPHQW KDV EHFRPH D JHQRFLGH WR

our economic fortunes. Nigeria is struggling to stand but WKH VKRFNLQJ WKLQJ LV WKDW WKH IROORZHUV GRQ·W JHW LW $VN DQ\ VXSSRUWHU ZK\ GR \RX VXSSRUW D FDQGLGDWH WKH\ FDQQRW WHOO \RX ZK\ WKH\ ZLOO RQO\ VD\ , OLNH KLP , RQFH RUJDQL]HG D IR FXV JURXS DQG , GLVFRYHUHG WKDW PRVW 1LJHULDQV GRQ·W HYHQ NQRZ WKH LVVXHV VR LI ZH KDYH DQ HOHFWRUDWH WKDW GRQ·W NQRZ WKH LVVXHV KRZ FDQ ZH YRWH ZLVHO\" 7KH FDQGLGDWHV KDYH UHVROYHG WR SOD\ RQ WKH IDFW WKDW WKH HOHFWRUDWHV DUH QRW DZDUH RI WKH LVVXHV ,W KDV WR EH VDLG WKH\ KDYH GHOLEHUDWHO\ WDNHQ WKH FDPSDLJQ RͿ LVVXHV EDVHG SROL WLFV WR VKRZPDQVKLS ZDWFKLQJ WKH FDPSDLJQ VHDVRQ LQ 1L JHULD LV OLNH ZDWFKLQJ %LJ %URWKHU $IULFD LW·V DOO GUDPD , ZULWH EHFDXVH , IHDU LI ZH GRQ·W EULQJ WKH LVVXHV WR WKH IRUH DQG GHEDWH DERXW VROXWLRQV ZH PLJKW QRW JHW WKH ULJKW FDQGLGDWH &XUUHQWO\ ZLWK WKH VWULNH E\ RLO PDUNHWHUV , H[ SHFW UREXVW GHEDWH RQ VROXWLRQV WR KLNH LQ IXHO SULFH DQG UH moval of subsidies by the candidates but all is see is long PRWRUFDGHV DQG RXWODQGLVK SDUWLHV WR FHOHEUDWH WKHLU VPDOO ZLQV DV WKH\ ORRN IRUZDUG WR WKH ELJ ZLQV , PXVW UHSHDW HOHFWLRQV PDWWHU DQG LW·V VHULRXV EXVLQHVV EXW 1LJHULDQV DU HQ·W WDNLQJ LW VHULRXVO\ Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Ekweremadu Is a Victim, Not a Criminal!

oth in Nigeria and in The United Kingdom, former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria’s Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has been painted as a callous, modern-day slaver, and criminal. However, when you unravel the layers in this story, the truth is a polar opposite of what has been projected globally about a man who has done what almost any loving father would do. And in this edition of the #TheAlternative, we will consider the facts, not the farce, that is out there. But first of all, let me state that, if any of my children needs organs to save their life, (God forbid), and my wife and I are not a match, I will do anything legally possible to get them a match, including paying a willing adult to donate their organs to them. And even that ‘legally’ is qualified. If my child is dying and I can bend the rules to save their life, what would I do? Perhaps, I can’t answer that question here. The majority of the people that are active on social media are young adults who do not have children. So, they don’t know the lengths to which love for your children can drive you. That is why they are spilling and spreading vitriol against people who are in a state of grief. I empathise greatly with the Ekweremadus and hope for their vindication and continue to wish Ike Ekweremadu well. May God be with them, in Christ’s Name. Now, let us go into the nitty-gritty. The British legal system has obviously been duped by Nwamini, who himself has extracted too high a price from the Ekweremadus for his desperation to japa! The facts are just too glaring. I don’t see the court case against the Ekweremadus arriving at a conviction. Now, what are the facts? We now know that Ekweremadu wrote to the consulate or the British High Commission in Nigeria seeking a visa for David Ukpo Nwamini. In that letter, which is now in the public domain, Senator Ekweremadu came clean on the fact that he was facilitating the visa for the purpose of organ donation. Now, only the most foolish organ trafficker would have written such a letter. And we know that Senator Ekweremadu is no fool. Secondly, on the visa issued to Mr. Nwamini by the UK government, the purpose of his visit is clearly stated as ‘Private Medical Treatment’. This corroborates the letter written by Ekweremadu, and clearly shows that his intentions were made known to the United Kingdom’s High Commission. And Mr. Nwamini can read and write. He is literate. His Facebook profile proves that much. He could not have seen that endorsement on his visa

Ekweremadu and thought he was going on a holiday! And then there is the issue of his age. Somehow or the other, the Bank Verification Number registration for Mr. Nwamini was leaked. It has been authenticated. It clearly shows that the young man is an adult, who had his biographic taken in 2019 to facilitate his bank account sustenance (he already had an account). So, it is clear that he could not have been a minor and is clearly lying about his age in a bid to get papers to live and work in The United Kingdom. In an interview with Vanguard Newspapers, his own younger brother has also said the young man is lying about his age. Thirdly, let us consider his claims that he was the victim of modern slavery and was maltreated by the Ekweremadus. I encourage my readers to take a look at the hefty-looking young man called David Ukpo Nwamini. Go to his Facebook page. You would see that the young man does not look like someone who could be pushed around by

Senator Ekweremadu or his wife. Quite the opposite. He looks like someone who would push around his benefactors rather than vice versa. Think for a moment how grief-stricken the Ekweremadus had been over the life-threatening health situation of their daughter, Sonia. If you were in such a situation, would you even have the time to maltreat anybody? Especially someone that you thought could be a lifesaver for your daughter? This couple is desperate. They are grief-stricken. They are beside themselves. I find it very, very, hard to believe that they would prioritise maltreating a person like Nwamini. And on his Facebook page, the young man flaunted photos of himself in choice areas of London. What type of modern slave does that? Oh please! What has happened here is very clear. A shrewd young man saw the desperation of parents of a child with a life-threatening health condition. Rather than empathise, he saw their suffering as an opportunity to relocate to The UK. He very likely had hatched

this plan right from the outset, but the Ekweremadus, blinded by their desperation and love for their child, were too blind to see it. And that is not the only thing I find sad. It blows my mind the almost absolute lack of sympathy, empathy and understanding that the Senator has got from his own people of the Southeast of Nigeria. As bad as Abba Kyari is, his people are staying by him until he is proven guilty. In the US, Trump’s people stayed loyal to him, no matter the charge. An accusation is not a conviction. I feel sorry for this red-cap chief. His own people spearheaded his condemnation! Have they totally forgotten the development he attracted to his area? Many celebrated and acted like he had already been convicted. I doubt he will be convicted. I feel sad how he is treated as an orphan. First have love amongst yourselves before saying others don’t love you! Many of them say things like ‘why did he not build hospitals in Nigeria to treat his daughter?’ Since when does a Senator have the power, authority, or funds to build hospitals? President Buhari, that should be rightly so accused, got more empathy than Ekweremadu over his frequent UK medical tourism. The Ekweremadu I know has used his position to influence projects being cited in the Southeast, and federal employment for the people of his region. Yet, it took a Yoruba woman from Kwara to empathise with him enough to do a video volunteering to donate a kidney to his daughter! When he is vindicated and he returns home, Mr. Ekweremadu will have to do a lot of reflection on his travails and the lessons he has learnt. He will not be the only one. Other Nigerians will likewise be taking notes and learning lessons.

Reno’s Nuggets Education is incomplete without travel. Travel is the butter that makes the bread of education sumptuous. I don’t want to hear about other places. I want to go and see them for myself. Mexico. My 17th country of 2022. And the first country I visited by ship this year. Nothing excites me like travelling. It is the only thing that humbles me without humiliating me. Why? Because travel makes you see how large the world is and how small you are in it. If you have an outsized ego, travel therapy will help you shrink it to size!

PERSPECTIVE

Revitalising Urban Development: The Ogun Example Ajibola Taiwo

t is easy to highlight the importance of urban development in terms of holistic socio-economic impacts like improving the functionality, connectivity, interaction and aesthetics of a society and attracting investors and investments, yet urban development has even more far-reaching and immediate impacts on individuals, and requires a level of commitment from all strata of the citizenry. One of the most important benefits of urban development is the safety of the inhabitants of any community. Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, identified shelter (housing) as one of the first three basic needs of man, second only to food and clothing. These basic needs must first be met before people move up the hierarchy to pursue other needs, including the social, emotional and self-actualising needs. However, for any housing unit to be a shelter indeed and fulfil its rudimentary purpose as a basic need, it must be safe for its inhabitants, not only from external elements like weather elements or threat from wild animals, but also from incidences of building collapse or the health challenges of building in dangerous terrains. To avoid this, buildings are subjected to a variety of tests, including structural tests, to forestall future problems. Every developed society possesses a master plan for each community. When buildings are erected according to the master plan of any environment, it reduces the need for destruction of property in the future, as development takes shape more readily in areas where the parameters are earmarked for it. Also, as population increases, the need for certain social amenities also increases. Thus, if buildings are already erected within the parameters of a defined master plan, the level of destruction of property will be controlled than if buildings were erected indiscriminately. What’s more? It would be easier for government to plan and distribute resources when people follow building master plans. Electricity, water, roads and even establishment of hospitals, schools and police

stations are easier provided for when building development fits into a general master plan. This is not to say that some buildings might not need to give way for development of certain areas, as urban development is a dynamic and continuous process. Individuals can however, protect themselves from suffering any loss by following the building laws of the state where they reside, paying whatever levies are due to appropriate authorities, and keeping their receipts in case the need arises for them to defend themselves. In Ogun State, the very first step is to search to know if the land falls within the boundaries of government acquisition or not, and whether it complies with the regional plans of different areas of the state. Although this process is initiated at the Bureau of Lands and Survey, it moves on to the major ministry in charge of the urban development drive of the state, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, where the relevant unit, the Department of Planning Information, Research and Records, attempts to ascertain that the intended development, whether residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural, falls within the sub-regional plans designed according to the economic potential of the different areas of the state. To drive the desired change in the urban development sector, the ministry’s name was changed from Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning to Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in the year 2020. This was an innovation by the leadership of the Ministry under the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to unbundle its statutory functions while adding several new components to its service delivery in a bid to meet prevailing realities in the urban development sector, and for improved service delivery. The Ministry thus established three

agencies, viz; Ogun State Planning and Development Authority, Ogun State Slum Regeneration Authority and Ogun State Building Production Management Authority, to serve as its enforcement arms, while maintaining its regulatory oversight. Since the overhaul, there have been many policy reforms across board in a bid to sanitise the sector and improve its regulation. Major among these policy reforms is the passage of a principal law in the state, The Administration of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Slum Regeneration and Building Production Management Law (Law 2022) which has six regulations for the physical planning sector - a first of its kind innovation in the built industry across Nigeria. Also worthy of note is the fact that the Ministry, for the first time in Nigeria, leveraged Public-Private Partnership model by initiating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Ogun State government and Ogun State Chapter of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), a non-governmental group of professionals in the built industry and related sectors. For the purpose of regional planning and development implementation, Ogun State is divided into five sub-regions. One of the major determinants of the sub-regional clusters, beyond historical, cultural and trade relationships, are the prevailing land use and local economic base. This means whether residential, commercial or industrial, all proposed buildings within each zone must be within the framework of designated development plan of the area. Once it has been established that the proposed building(s) or facility meets the regulations of the state and falls within the appropriate cluster, other documents such as site plans, architectural drawings, electrical/ mechanical and structural engineering drawings,

among others are demanded. All these documents are necessary for assessment and endorsement of any building development plan, after which the physical assessment of the site is done. The totality of the planning permit process, which used to take months, presently spans between seven and fourteen days due to the reforms in the Ministry, especially if the public utilise the 22 zonal town planning offices across the state, specifically established to decentralise town planning activities and fast track obtaining building permits, among other things. Hence, obtaining a building permit has become less cumbersome. As government is trying to ensure that urban development and renewal activities happen in a structured and civilized manner, the citizenry also has its own role to play, such that the advantage of a well-planned society is enjoyed by the governing and the governed alike. If members of the public can do their due diligence by ascertaining that their building development do not encroach on rights of way, pipelines, and setbacks of public utilities and infrastructure; that housing structure(s) or facilities are not proposed or built on erosion channels, water ways, river banks and other flood-prone areas; and more importantly, if they engage professionals in the built sector to achieve quality buildings and ensure that they do not develop their property in contravention of the laws of the state, they will find that the process is hitch-free and easy. Members of the public should please note that it is important to obtain planning permits and building clearances before any construction work is started, so that the state can continue to develop in an organised, habitable and safe manner. That is the only way sustainable urban development can be achieved. Ajibola Taiwo is an Information Officer in the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta and can be reached via shalomvaughn@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 24June-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 195.25 196.40 14.93% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.32% Nigeria International Debt Fund 320.11 320.11 4.86% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.00 107.15 7.35% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.14% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.70 3.77 4.56% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 3.92% Anchoria Equity Fund 146.73 148.38 5.37% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 5.52% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.56% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 2.98% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.44% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.89 105.89 8.75% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,117.51 1,117.51 11.75% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.13 2.13 3.98% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.38 2.44 20.63% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalﬁf@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,016.11 1,016.11 4.48% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 4.19% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.13% Paramount Equity Fund 19.97 20.33 14.49% Women's Investment Fund 150.93 152.82 6.30% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.81% Cordros Milestone Fund 135.80 136.72 8.92% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.00 110.00 5.10% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.87% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 6.06% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,163.60 1,177.46 -0.05% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.05% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.62% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.06 1.06 16.49% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.64 102.64 4.58% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1468.1 1468.1 10.59% FBN Balanced Fund 195.06 196.43 11.30% FBN Halal Fund 120.77 120.77 10.14% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.83% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.34 124.34 5.73% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 165.99 168.20 9.26% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.74% Legacy Debt Fund 3.96 3.96 -1.09% Legacy Equity Fund 1.95 1.98 11.92% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.23 1.23 1.89% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,174.91 3,572.70 100.00

4,235.33 3,572.70 100.00

15.10% 6.27% 7.39%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.92% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.42% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.03 3.07 12.24% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 141.00 141.00 2.90% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.30 1.33 9.07% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 4.04% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.59 1.61 11.77% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,173.72 1,173.72 4.68% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.52 12.59 14.57% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.47% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.57 102.57 7.85% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.94% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.69 1.72 6.97% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.82 11.86 5.82% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 5.57% PACAM Equity Fund 1.50 1.52 5.70% PACAM EuroBond Fund 115.38 118.38 1.40% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.86 130.69 6.26% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 8.55% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,681.87 3,723.79 -2.41% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 239.44 239.44 0.24% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.47 1.49 -1.99% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 321.49 321.50 0.37% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 273.86 277.78 -0.95% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.67% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,336.23 12,506.25 -2.50% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 0.38% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.75 118.75 0.23% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 110.15 110.15 0.62% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.01 1.04 13.29% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.43 1.46 9.13% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.17 10.84% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 3.44% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.89 1.89 3.09% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.58 121.58 2.60% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.80% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.84 13.97 4.97% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.23 16.41 11.06% Zenith Income Fund 22.78 22.78 3.77% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.10% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.90 4.00 -2.72% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.21 6.31 6.31% Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.03 19.23 7.58% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.44% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.46 21.66 7.35% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 154.21 156.21 -2.24%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.13 51.68

3.47% 1.63%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.12 144.05 114.10 17.10 16.40

15.22 147.53 116.55 17.20 16.50

8.07% -4.64% -4.02% 20.53% 4.74%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

LAWYER TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

UT H

& RE A S O

WEEKLY PULLOUT

UT H

& RE A S O

ROLAND EWUBARE

‘2023 Transition Will be Pivotal for a Better Nigeria’

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

R E Y W A L A

TUE SDAY, JUN

LLOUT WEEKLY PU

TRU

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RE A S

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Effect of Failure of Court to Pronounce on all Issues

E 28, 202 2

BARE ROLAND EWU

Page IV

‘Judiciary Must Entrench Accountability & Probity in Managing its Resources’, NBA President

ll i W n o i t i s n a r T ‘2023 r o f l a t o v i P be ’ a i r e g i N r e a Bett QUOTABLES

Page V

'The Federalism that is being run by Nigeria is perverse, it is not right. Something has to be done.’ - Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Governor of Ondo State ‘…. I am Ifeanyi, and there’s no doubt that I’m an Ibo man in Delta State, South South region…. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, from the North East, got the ticket….As we move forward and the Ibos continue to make their agitation, I’m sure the time will come when an Ibo man will also be President of this nation.’ - Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State; PDP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2023 election

LAWYER

'Refrain from Granting Frivolous Injunctions', CJN Warns Page V

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

When Justices Cry Out; and INEC Makes Right Decision #upjudicialsalaries cannot but comment briefly on the unsigned letter that is alleged to have been written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by his brother Justices of Supreme Court, which made the rounds last week. So many important issues were raised therein, that require urgent attention. However, without going into the nittygritty details of the letter, I can comfortably repeat at the risk of sounding like a broken record or scratched compact disc, that the sum and substance of the matter is that, the salary, allowances and conditions of service of all judicial officers in Nigeria, including those of the Apex Court Justices, is poor and shameful; and there must be an upward review of same forthwith. For example, while Legislators are provided with brand new state of the art vehicles at the beginning of every legislative cycle (every four years), judicial officers do not enjoy the same. The mention of used ‘Tokunbo’ cars in the aforementioned unsigned letter, made me feel bad. I even watched a television interview last week, in which Dr Monday Ubani stated that some judicial officers, Magistrates I think, travel by public transport, since they do not own vehicles. Tah! Something else that I noticed when I was reading the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution), specifically Sections 84 & 291, was that even though the three arms of government are meant to be co-equal, again we see another attempt by the drafters of the grundnorm to elevate the Executive over and above the other arms, particularly the Judiciary. While Section 84(5) & (6) provides that an ex-President and Vice are entitled to pension for life, a charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent holders of both offices (meaning that the executive pensions move with the times); in contrast, the CJN, JSCs, President of the Court of Appeal and JCAs are only entitled to their pensions at a rate equivalent to their last annual salary and allowances, provided that they have served as judicial officers for at least 15 years. As it is, the salaries of judicial officers are meagre and outdated, having not been reviewed in well over a decade. Their pensions are then benchmarked on these poor salaries. Ironically, while a President serves for a maximum of eight years (two terms), most judicial officers that reach the Apex Court or even Court of Appeal, have a career that spans well over 25 years on the Bench (some up to 40 years). While the Legislators receive fabulous enough salary, allowances and perquisites to build a home and set themselves up for life even if they do only one legislative cycle (four years), a JSC retires after serving for well over a quarter or close to half a century with little or nothing. Many judicial officers, have no homes to retire to. For many of these long serving, long suffering judicial officers, when they were called to serve on the Bench, life wasn’t as nasty as it is today. And, while they don’t expect to end up as billionaires, I don’t think judicial officers expect to end up as homeless paupers at the end of their careers either. Their own job description requires integrity, dignity, modesty and seclusion. They are not permitted to be out there doing business, to augment their meagre incomes. Therefore, their salaries and allowances must be good, and they must at least have a decent home to call their own to retire to at the end of their service, and a decent pension to sustain themselves and their families. It is my sincere hope that, as a matter of urgency, the issues facing the Judiciary are addressed and resolved once and for all. There is no better time than now, to start the upgrade and upward review. Kudos to Lagos and Rivers State, for their efforts to improve the lot of judicial officers in their States.

Allure of the Legislature Is it the attractive remuneration package of the Legislature and the allure of 'easy' money

to have also been nominated for Senate as well, to void both nominations? Again, while I know that it is not INEC’s place to choose candidates for political parties, what would be the essence of monitoring primaries, if INEC failed to do the needful resulting therefrom? Rejecting the name of an individual that is submitted as the successful candidate for an elective office, who INEC is well aware did not participate in a primary election that it monitored, is as obvious as the examples of the underaged ANDP candidates or the Chinese National. It is trite law that an aspirant who did not participate/contest in his/ her party primaries, is not an aspirant in the eyes of the law, let alone the party candidate for elective office. See the case of Ardo & Anor v Nyako & Ors (2013) LPELR-20887 (CA).

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “Is it the attractive remuneration package of the Legislature and the allure of 'easy' money that has made the Senate an appealing retirement home for ExGovernors and other desperadoes, or is it just a way for them to try to stay relevant in the business of governance, or a combination of all of the above?” that has made the Senate an appealing retirement home for Ex-Governors and other desperadoes, or is it just a way for them to try to stay relevant in the business of governance, or a combination of all of the above? I saw a list of Ex-Governors who are vying for the Senate in 2023. If they are successful, 25% of the Upper Chamber will comprise of ex-Governors, many of whom did not particularly distinguish themselves for stellar governance in their States, and are now transferring their deficient work ethic of non-performance to the highest lawmaking body in the land - a truly uninspiring oligarchy. Unfortunately, by virtue of Section 65 and barring any disqualification under Section 66 of the Constitution, they are eligible to run for office. INEC & Disqualiﬁcation On the issue of disqualification, even under Section 31 of the repealed 2010 Electoral Act, I didn’t buy the idea that INEC couldn’t reject the nomination of a candidate for any reason whatsoever, as provided therein. I had discussed this issue during the ANDP saga of underaged gubernatorial candidates,

The Supreme Court of Nigeria

and contended that it was Section 177(b) of the Constitution that had rejected them, not INEC. I went on to ask that, if contrary to Section 177(a) of the Constitution, a Chinese National was put forward as a candidate, would INEC accept such an unconstitutional, unacceptable nomination? That unless a disgruntled aspirant went to court to question the qualification of a Chinese National, INEC would allow such a person to contest in the election because it cannot reject a candidate? It sounded absurd. Now that the obnoxious provision has been expunged from the 2022 Electoral Act (EA), I couldn’t understand what initially seemed like INEC’s reluctance to take necessary action on the issue of rejection of candidates, vis-àvis those who didn’t contest the primaries but somehow emerged as party candidates for various Senatorial seats. Can Section 35 of the EA which prohibits and voids the nomination of a candidate who knowingly allows him/herself to be nominated by more than one political party or in more than one constituency, be applied against those who were nominated for two elective positions, that is, Presidency and subsequently claimed

Reasoning Section 78 of the Constitution empowers INEC to conduct elections, while the Third Schedule to the Constitution Part F Section 15(d) empowers it to monitor party primaries, as does Section 84(1) of the EA. By virtue of Section 82(1) & 2(b) of the EA, political parties must give INEC at least 21 days notice inter alia, of their convention or congress for the purpose of nominating candidates for elective offices; failure to give such notification to INEC, invalidates any such meeting (see Sections 82(5) of the EA). That is how important INEC’s role is, in the process of the nomination of candidates in all political parties. What then would be the essence of these provisions, if INEC adopts a ‘siddon look’ stance, instead of playing its role in this regard? Section 83(1) of the EA mandates INEC to keep records of all the activities of political parties (which would obviously include proceedings at primaries), while Section 84(13) states unequivocally that “Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue”. ”APC obviously failed to comply with the provisions of the EA, with regard to some of its Senatorial primaries. Yes, Section 84(14) of the EA permits a disgruntled aspirant to apply to the Federal High Court for redress, if he/she has complaints with the selection or nomination of a candidate; but this provision does not prevent INEC taking action as provided by Section 84(13) of the EA. Thankfully, I believe that it was on the basis of the said Section 84(13) that INEC excluded the names of Ahmad Lawan, Godswill Akpabio and David Umahi from the list of APC Senatorial candidates (also see Section 29(1) of the EA). As a record keeper and monitor, it would be strange for INEC to accept names of party candidates it knows didn’t participate in primaries that it monitored, and then let people waste the time of the court whose docket is already congested and resources on litigation, before speaking up. Conclusion At times, it is this kind of reluctance/delay on the part of INEC to do what is required, that gives the public the opportunity to cast aspersions on a body that seems to be doing its best to deliver credible elections to Nigerians. I am glad that, in the end, INEC did the right thing and excluded those who didn’t contest in the Party Primaries for the 2023 election, from the list of candidates. Making the right decision inspires public, and indeed, global confidence in INEC. As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing in the law that prevents INEC from rejecting the candidature of so-called aspirants who did not contest the primaries. Not everything has to be litigated upon, to be proved. Does INEC make its own video recordings of such party activities like primaries that is has to monitor? Maybe having those visual record of proceedings, would make INEC’s work as a monitor/observer even easier, and make the process of nominating candidates more transparent.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Effect of Failure of Court to Pronounce on all Issues Facts The 1st Appellant, a limited liability company, while the 2nd Appellant is its Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. In April 2007, the Respondent granted an overdraft facility in the sum of N600,000,000.00 to the 1st Appellant for a tenor of 365 days, with an option of roll-over. In May and July 2007, two additional overdraft facilities in the sum of N400,000,000.00 and N250,000,000.00 respectively, were granted to the 2nd Appellant for tenors of 365 days with options of roll-over. It was the case of the Appellants that the overdraft facilities were liquidated, but the Respondent refused to release their shares pledged for the facilities. Thus, they instituted and action at the Federal High Court, Lagos in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1491/2009, seeking, inter alia, a declaration that the Respondent was indebted to the Appellants in the sum of N170,304,096.79 being the shortfall arising from the unconscionable and negligent sale of 28,745,400 units of Guarantee Trust Bank shares owned by the Appellants; a declaration that the Respondent is indebted to the Appellants in the sum of N35,725,18.87, being the outstanding excess of interest charges debited to the Appellants’ accounts by the Respondent; a declaration that the Respondent is also indebted to the 1st Appellant in the sum of N245,729.49 being the cash deposit which was not credited to the 1st Appellant’s account on 2/11/2008, with interest at the rate of 16% per annum from 21/10/2009 when an official demand letter was sent to the Respondent in respect thereof and till date; a declaration that the Appellants are entitled to offset their indebtedness to the Respondent from the sums enumerated earlier, and that they had fully discharged all their obligations to the Respondent. The Appellants also sought an order of court directing the Respondent to release to them, their pledged shares and every other document relating to the shares. In the alternative, they sought an order of court for proper reconciliation of the Appellants’ accounts, prior to and after the merger of the accounts to determine the actual indebtedness of the Appellants (if any). The Respondent, in its defence, averred that the Appellants had not liquidated the facilities at the end of the tenure, further to which the Respondent granted an extension for them to liquidate the facilities. The 2nd Appellant subsequently applied that the facility granted to him, be merged with that of the 1st Appellant. At the end of the trial, the court found for the Appellants. The court held that, any outstanding due to the Respondent was fully offset by the loss suffered by the Appellants from the manner the Respondent handled the sale of their shares and from the excess bank charges alluded to by the Appellants, and by the “lost and found” deposit in the sum of N212,700.00 plus interest accrued. The court thereby, directed a release of the Appellants’ shares and certificates held as lien for the overdraft facilities. General damages in the sum of N2.5 billion was also awarded in favour of the Appellants for breach of contract, giving inadequate consideration to customers’ interests, and loss of business opportunity to the Appellants. Upon the application of the Appellants as Judgement Creditors, the court granted a Garnishee Order Nisi on 7/12/2010 attaching the funds of the Respondent in six banks listed as Garnishees. The Respondent applied to set aside the Order Nisi, and to dismiss the garnishee proceedings for failure to comply with Order IV Rule 1(2) of the Judgement (Enforcement) Rules of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, which prohibits issuance of any process of execution of the judgement before the expiration of three days, from the date of judgement, except with the leave of court. The trial court, however, dismissed the Respondent’s application, and made the Garnishee Order Absolute on 9/2/2011. The Respondent appealed the Garnishee Order Nisi and Absolute, in Appeal Nos: CA/L/245/2011 and CA/L/245A/2011. The parties had agreed that these appeals would be adjourned, to await the outcome of the decision of the Supreme Court on the substantive suit in SC.535/2013. The said appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court, on 30/10/2019. Consequent upon the foregoing, the Appellants filed an application at the Court of Appeal on 30/10/2019 seeking an order of court dismissing the appeal in CA/L/245/2011 (Garnishee Order Nisi) on ground that there was an agreement for the appeal to abide the final judgement of the Supreme Court in SC.535/2013. The Court of Appeal held that the appeal on the Garnishee Order Nisi made by the trial court, relates to the steps taken by the court in the conduct of the proceedings. The appeal is different, and did not touch on the main appeal. The application was thereby, dismissed. The Appellants therefore, appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

argued for the Respondent that by law, a party who is aggrieved with a decision of court has a right of appeal to an appellate court; any attempt to deprive the aggrieved party of his right of appeal would be unconstitutional and a denial of fair hearing – PDP v SHERIFF & ORS (2017) LPELR-42736 SC. He argued that the agreement of parties to await the decision of the Supreme Court in SC.535/2013 did not amount to waiver of its constitutional right to appeal, as the Court of Appeal ought to determine the appeal one way or the other in the interest of justice. This was especially so, as the two appeals related to different subject-matters and considering the sui generis nature of garnishee proceedings and its regulatory provisions.

Honourable Abdu Aboki, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 27th day of May, 2022 Before Their Lordships Olukayode Ariwoola Amina Adamu Augie Uwani Musa Abba Aji Abdu Aboki Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC/CV/478/2021 Between 1. 2.

Longterm Global Capital Limited Mr Patrick Akinkuotu

Appellants

And Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Abdu Aboki, JSC)

The Respondent filed a Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the appeal and jurisdiction of the court to entertain same, on the ground that the original Notice of Appeal contained a sole ground which is of mixed law and facts, and which the Appellants did not seek and obtain leave of court before filing. Issues for Determination The issues in the main appeal were: 1. Whether the refusal and/or neglect of the Court of Appeal to specifically consider and pronounce on the issue relating to the incompetence of the Counter-Affidavit filed by the Respondent, did not amount to denial of the Appellants’ constitutional right to fair hearing. 2. Whether the Court of Appeal was in error when it dismissed the Appellants’ application on the basis that the said application was aimed at depriving the Respondent of its constitutional right of appeal against the Garnishee Order Nisi, which emanated from the garnishee proceedings, which was adjudged different and distinct from the main suit from which the judgement of the Supreme Court at the material time emanated. Arguments Arguing the first issue, the Appellants submitted that the settled position of law is that courts are under an obligation to properly consider and pronounce on all issues raised by parties

“…. the attitude of appellate court where a court does not consider all issues raised before it, is not to inexorably set aside the decision. Failure to consider all issues raised by court will only amount to denial of fair hearing, where such omission occasioned a miscarriage of justice”

before it, to avoid miscarriage of justice and/or denial of fair hearing – UZUDA v EGIGAH & ORS. (2009) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1163) 1. Counsel argued that the lower court breached the Appellants’ rights to fair hearing, when it failed to consider their contention that the Respondent’s Counter-affidavit was incompetent. He posited further that, the court had the duty to consider their objection to the various paragraphs of the Respondent’s Counter-affidavit which contained extraneous matters. The Appellants urged the Supreme Court to invoke its inherent jurisdiction, to consider the objections raised by the Appellants to the Respondent’s Counter-affidavit. Contending otherwise, counsel for the Respondent submitted that the alleged refusal of the lower court to specifically consider and pronounce on the competence of the Respondent’s Counteraffidavit was not fundamental or fatal to the decision to warrant setting aside same, as the omission did not occasion any miscarriage of justice or breach of the Appellants’ right to fair hearing – BOKO v NUNGWA (2019) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1654) 295 at 425. Counsel argued further that the Respondent’s Counter-affidavit at the lower court, did not offend Section 115(2) of the Evidence Act. On issue two, the Appellants submitted the Respondent had voluntarily agreed that its appeal against the Garnishee Order Absolute, made by the court of first instance should abide the final decision of the Supreme Court in SC.535/2013; the Respondent thereby, waived its right to continue with the appeal before the Court of Appeal, following the judgement of the Supreme Court aforesaid. Counsel argued that where parties have agreed to abide the result of another suit on appeal, the losing party should not be allowed to escape through the back door by reneging from its voluntary agreement to re-litigate on that issue – ELIZABETH MABAMIJE v HANS WOLFGANG OTTO (2016) 13 NWLR (Pt. 1529) 171. Responding to the submissions above, counsel

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court resolved the Preliminary Objection first, holding that a Ground of Appeal should not be considered in isolation of its particulars to understand its purports. The line between ground of law simpliciter and one of mixed law and fact, is thin. In the classification of Grounds of Appeal, it does not matter whether the Appellant labelled it one of law, fact or mixed law and fact, what the court ought to do is to examine the particular ground together with its particulars, if any, as a whole – CBN & ANOR. V OKOJIE & ORS. (2002) LPELR-836 (SC). The court considered the Ground of Appeal in question and its particulars, in coming to the decision that it was a ground of law. Their Lordships held that when the case on appeal has to do with whether the lower court considered all the issues brought before it, it amounts to a denial of fair hearing and is clearly a question of law within the ambit of Section 233(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which can be appealed as of right. Deciding the issue of fair hearing raised by the Appellants, the Apex Court held that, fair hearing implies that all the parties to an action must be given equal opportunity to present their case before the court the way they know best. The other aspect of fair hearing is that a court in deciding a case, must consider all the issues presented before it by all the parties. The inability of the court to consider the case put forward by the parties in writing the judgement, amounts to denial of fair hearing. In HONEYWELL FLOUR MILLS PLC v ECOBANK (2018) LPELR-45127 (SC), the Supreme Court held that a court of law should always make pronouncement on, or must determine all the issues raised before it by parties. However, the attitude of appellate court where a court does not consider all issues raised before it, is not to inexorably set aside the decision. Failure to consider all issues raised by court will only amount to denial of fair hearing, where such omission occasioned a miscarriage of justice. In this case, the questions determined by the court below encompassed the issue of incompetence of the Counter-affidavit; and so, there was no miscarriage of justice occasioned by the omission to make pronouncement on the objection specifically. On the second issue, the Apex Court held that in law, waiver must be in respect of a private right and for benefit of a particular person; that is in contradistinction to a public right which one person cannot waive, because it is intended for public good. Thus, statutory provision for the benefit of a person can therefore be waived, because it confers a private right or protects a private interest. A right to appeal, being a private right, can be waived. From the record of appeal however, what was requested for was an adjournment of the appeal at the Court of Appeal to await the decision of the Supreme Court in SC.535/2013. Regarding the issue of competence of the Respondent’s appeal in view of the provisions of Section 14 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004, the Apex Court held that a determination of the competence of the Respondent’s appeal pending at the Court of Appeal was premature, at this stage. The competence or otherwise of the appeal, ought to be determined by the Court of Appeal. On the argument that the appeal challenging the Garnishee Order Nisi had become academic, their Lordships decided that a case on appeal becomes academic when it would bring no benefit to any of the parties, or where there is no live issue in the claim. A determination of whether the garnishee proceedings was in flagrant violation of the mandatory provisions of Order IV Rule 1(2) of the Judgement (Enforcement) Rules of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, is a live issue which must be decided one way or the other. Appeal Dismissed. Representation Chief F.O. Fagbohungbe, SAN with Abayomi Adeniran for the Appellants. D.D. Dodo, SAN with Samson Eigege, Adewale Adegboyega, Nkechi Udeze and Christian Fehintola for the Respondents. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

The CJN and a cross-section of the Participants at the AGA-Africa Conference in Abuja

Olumide Akpata

President Muhammadu Buhari

‘Judiciary Must Entrench Accountability & Probity in Managing its Resources’, NBA President There is an urgent need for fundamental reforms of the administration and governance of the Nigerian Judiciary, according to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The above was contained in a press statement issued and signed by the President, Olumide Akpata. The NBA described as disheartening and unfortunate, the conditions highlighted in the letter written by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), alleging various improprieties and administrative inefficiencies,

and the subsequent response of the CJN. The NBA stated that the situation has not only affected the judicial responsibilities of the Justices, but also impacted on the justice administration process. While advocating for the independence and financial autonomy of the Judiciary, the NBA also noted that it is important that the Judiciary must not only be, but should be seen as being, above board and transparent in the management and allocation of the resources

Buhari, Malami’s Suit on Electoral Act Struck Out by Supreme Court The suit filed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, seeking to void the provision of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, has been struck out by the Supreme Court. In its judgement delivered last Friday, a seven-member panel of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Musa Dattijo Mohammed, was unanimous in holding that Buhari, having participated in the making of the law by assenting to it, could not turn around to fault its provisions. The court, which upheld the objections raised by the National

Assembly and other Defendants against the suit, declined to determine it on the merits, but declared that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it, and that the suit was an abuse of court process. Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgement, held that it was an attack on the democratic principle of Separation of Powers, for the President to seek to direct/ request the Legislature to make a particular law or alter any law. “The President lacks the power to direct the National Assembly to amend or enact an act..it violates the principle of separation of powers.

currently available to it. “The Judiciary must entrench the principles of accountability and probity in the manner in which it expends allocated resources. While the fight for increased budgetary allocations

for the Judiciary continues, it is important that the available resources be used for the welfare and wellbeing of our Judicial Officers, as well as for the improvement of the infrastructure and facilities required by our

Judges and Justices, to effectively discharge their duties. “There is a clear need for mechanisms to be put in place to ensure that the Judiciary (with the Supreme Court leading the charge) is providing the neces-

sary template to other arms of government, on transparent procurement and budgeting. This will reduce the perception in some quarters that the Judiciary is not accountable to anyone, and is also not self-regulating.”

Why I Appeared in Traditional Religious Attire at the Supreme Court Chief Malcom Omoirhobo, the Lawyer who caused a stir when he appeared in the full traditionaßl attire of an “Olokun priest” in the courtroom of the Supreme Court to attend court proceedings, has explained the reasons behind his actions. Chief Malcom, who addressed journalists said, “I am very grateful to the Supreme Court; just last week Friday they made a very resounding decision that promotes Section 38 of the Constitution. That is

our right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. That we are free to express our way of worship, in our schools and in our courts. That decision was reached on Friday, and that has encouraged me. “Because I am a traditionalist, and this is the way I worship. Based on the decision of the Supreme Court, this is how I will be dressing henceforth in court, because I am a strong adherent to “Olokun” the god of rivers.”

He further added that, the implication of the judgement was that every Nigerian, including doctors, police, military students, and journalists, can now wear their mode of worship in public places. He added that he was not against the judgement; rather, he was happy with the decision because it strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

There was mild drama at the Supreme Court, Abuja, on Thursday when the Lagos-based human rights Lawyer, Chief Malcom Omoirhobo appeared in the full traditional attire of an “Olokun priest” to attend court proceedings. The Lawyer told the court security that he dressed to court in that manner to exercise his fundamental human rights, following the judgement of the Supreme Court that allowed all Nigerians to express their way

'Refrain from Granting Frivolous Injunctions', CJN Warns Alex Enumah in Abuja The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has harped on the need for Justices and Judges handling election matters to show a high level of independence, and not bow to external pressure and influences in their adjudication of electoral matters. Justice Muhammad, who noted that Nigeria's develop-

ment is tied to a sustainable democracy which is anchored on a credible electoral process, stressed that the Judiciary play a crucial role just as the electoral umpire, in ensuring free, credible and peaceful elections. To this end he warned Judges against being partisan, or allowing themselves to be used by politicians for their selfish ends, thereby ridiculing the Judiciary. "In the light of the above and as we approach the election year, I

must emphasise that the Judiciary must not be drawn into the black hole of political expediency, as Judges are not willing tools to be exploited by the whims and caprices of politicians. "However.... as Justices and Judges, you must refrain from granting frivolous injunctions, remain impartial and most importantly, shun any form of inducement", the CJN said. Before, declaring open a two-day workshop on capacity

building for Judges on pre-election and election matters, the CJN noted that litigation has characterised election processes in the country right from the conduct of party primaries for the election of candidates, to the main election. He said aggrieved politicians or those who lost out would approach the court to intervene, and would want to corrupt Judges to do their bidding by filing frivolous applications and forum shopping.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Legal Practitioner and Son of former Attorney-General of Rivers State, late Sir Chinwe Aguma, SAN, Mr Chima Aguma who got married to his beloved Jessica Akpe on June 18, 2022 at St Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with his Mother, Lady Inime Aguma and Uncle, Hon. Igo Aguma

L-R: Wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike; the Couple; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike CON and Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili CFR, JSC (Rtd)

#upjudicialsalaries “These Supreme Court Justices are members of this society, and they reside in it. They have their wives and husbands; they have their children and dependents to take care of. I don’t know who said that because the economy affects everybody, they should perish.” - Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Placing “Place Holders” Placeless (Part 1) Introduction he APC political contraption, never ceases to amaze and confound me. It intrigues me to no end. This is a party (is it really one, going by the text book definition of a political party in political Science?) that rose from its often predicted imminent disintegration into smithereens, like a phoenix from its ashes, in a groggy, fumbling, wobbling, dawdling and near crumbling manner, to holding its first ever National Convention in March, 2022. At this swordy Convention, daggers were drawn and former two time PDP Governor and Senator, Abdullahi Adamu, was virtually crudely shoved down the already parched throats of majority of the APC members who had preferred former Nassarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as National Chairman. It was simply a triumph of a powerful minority cabal, over a silent helpless majority. I had predicted this when I vigorously kicked against consensus as a substitute for direct primaries in the new Electoral Act of 2022.

The Tinubu Abracadabra The APC unsurprisingly harvested a turbulent National Primaries Convention on 9th June, 2022, where Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu valiantly shrugged off sustained attempts to muzzle him out of the presidential race through unorthodox means, by a cabal believed to be working for President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, the “palace coup” executed by this faceless cabal headed by newly selected Adamu (they called it “election by consensus”), had told the whole world that the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, had been anointed as the “consensus candidate”. Tinubu, a political maestro, reached for his talismanic bag of “politricks”, fished out an abracadabra magical charm in a deft political move, that led to some presidential aspirants stepping down for him right at the very venue of the Convention. This was after the Northern APC Governors, had unanimously and roundly rejected Adamu’s flown kite of “consensus” for Lawan. The NWC of the APC, later completed the rejection of the Lawan farce. Tinubu later trounced Ahmed Lawan who garnered a miserable 152 votes (coming 4th position) with 1,271 winning votes. Tinubu also dusted Rotimi Amaechi (316 votes) to second position; while cerebral Lawyer, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, SAN (whom many had thought taciturn and inscrutinable President Buhari would naturally hand over to, having served him with total loyalty and fidelity for seven years), came sprawling on his belly to the third position, with a miserly 235 votes. In Nigeria, politics is politricks. It defies logic and sense. “Place Holder” Zooms In So, APC continues to taunt us. From high-falutin and unfulfilled promises of 2015 and 2019 (robust economy; defeating Boko Haram and insecurity; killing corruption), the APC has now drawn us into a new era where it has introduced a new political terminology into our political lexicon and vocabulary. It is called “place holder”. Editor of This Day Lawyer, daringly courageous, fecund, cerebral and intellectually-grounded writer, social critic and upscale Lawyer, Onikepo Braithwaite (her mother is Chief (Mrs) Priscilla Kuye, former NBA President; a fruit does not fall far away from the mother tree), provided us with a most apt title: “Running Mate; Dummy Mate!!”. This is one of the best titles I have ever seen, as a journalist and writer myself. Thank you, Onikepo, for standing firm and nationalistic. What is Place Holder? The Free Dictionary defines “placeholder” as “One who holds an office or place, especially as a deputy, proxy, or appointed government official”. Princeton's Word Net sees placeholder “As a proxy, procurator; a person authorised to act

Okupe

Okowa

for another”. Dictionary.com defines it as “something that makes or temporarily fills a place”. A “Dummy candidate”, says Wikipedia, on the other hand (another terminology for place holder), is a candidate who stands for election, usually with no intention or realistic chance of winning. Wikipedia is more exhaustive. It says: “a dummy candidate can serve any of the following purposes: “In instant-runoff voting, a dummy candidate may direct preferences to other candidates, in order to increase the serious candidate's share of the vote. “A dummy candidate may be used by a serious candidate, to overcome limits on advertising or campaign financing.” In India, for example there have been cases of serious candidates fielding multiple dummy candidates, to distribute their poll expenses. The expenses are directed towards the campaign of the serious candidate, but shown to the election commission under the dummy candidates' names. “Dummy candidates with names similar to that of a more established candidate may be fielded by political parties to confuse the voters, and cut that candidate's vote share. The dummy candidate's name also may be deceptively similar to that of a retiring incumbent”. The President and VP as Siamese Twins The office of the President is an office that demands two good heads, having regard to the premium placed on the office. The VicePresident is not a substitute for the President: he is an ever-present partner, help and associate. While a person cannot occupy the office of the President in perpetuity, the office of the President remains perpetual. Every President must have a Vice-Present. The relation is like that of Siamese twins, tied together by the same umbilical cord. This is why some people have erroneously regarded a VP as a “spare tyre”. No, he is not! Can a “place holder” substitute for this? The relationship between the President and the VP, actually starts before the conduct of any election. As a matter of fact, Section 142 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) (1999 Constitution) provides that: “… a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President, who is to occupy the office of Vice-President and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Vice-President if the candidate for election to the office of President

“If the nomination of the candidate for the ofﬁce of the VP is provisional, that of the President is equally provisional. It is inchoate….This is the ﬁrst legal implication, of taking a dangerous step such as this”

Masari who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President. …”. There are at least five principles embedded in the provision above. First, every President must have a VP. Second, the validity of the nomination of a candidate for the office of the President, is predicated solely on him nominating another candidate who shall serve as the VP. Third, if the nomination of a candidate to the office of the VP is provisional, the nomination of a candidate for the office of the President is provisional as well. Fourth, anything that invalidates the nomination of a candidate to the office of the VP, equally affects the candidate for the office of the President. Fifth, the candidate for the office of the President nominates the candidate for the office of the VP, and is deemed to have acquiesced and agreed to be bound by any danger inherent his nominee. Sixth, the nominee and the nominator must belong to the same political party. The nomination of a candidate for the office of the President and that of the VP, is therefore, joint. If the nomination of the candidate for the office of the VP is provisional, that of the President is equally provisional. It is inchoate. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. This is the first legal implication, of taking a dangerous step such as this. The Legal Implications of Placing a Place Holder At this stage, it is important, I clarify that a “candidate” for an election is different from the holder of the office of a VP. Section 152 of the Electoral Act 2022, defines a candidate as a person who has secured the nomination of a political party to contest an election for any elective office. It is only the winning of an election, that changes or translates a candidate to a VP. However, one need not be a candidate for an election before he can become a VP. This is because a VP is automatically selected as a running mate, by a presidential candidate. A political party bears the consequences of not submitting at all, or submitting an invalid candidate for an election. This is because by Section 131(c) of the Constitution, a candidate for an election to the office of President must be sponsored by a political party. Section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, states that a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections shall organise primaries for the aspirants under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act mandates every political party to submit to INEC, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for the general election, the candidates it is sponsoring in that general election. The submission of a candidate to INEC, constitutes a definite and unambiguous statement of the intent of the political party to have that candidate only as its representatives in the election. The nomination of a candidate and submission of his name by that political party to INEC therefore, seals the sponsorship of a candidate for an election. Once the window of nomination closes, all parties become functus officio. Can there be a Surrogate Running Mate?

Machina Who then is a placeholder, in relation to a candidate? A placeholder is not a candidate for an election. He is an unknown person who has the seal of a political party, to occupy the position of an unknown person; a mere faceless surrogate. His position creates uncertainty in a political party, as his presence can mar or invalidate the nomination of his principal. This person is clearly unknown to law, and the political party that submits such an unknown person to INEC is deemed to be aware of its wrongdoing, and must ready to face the consequences of its gamble. The APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, had nominated Ibrahim Masari, a Katsina politician, as the party’s placeholder or dummy candidate, for his yet to be named running mate, so as to beat the INEC deadline. Masari had served the APC as its National Welfare Secretary under the Adams Oshiomhole-led, National Working Committee (NWC). It is believed that the issue of Tinubu having a Muslim-Muslim ticket (Prof Babangida Zulum of Borno State is said to be the preferred one), is tearing the party apart. Can they repeat the Abiola-Kingibe “Hope 93” successful Muslim-Muslim joint ticket, with the present state of the nation where religion is tearing it apart? Only time will tell. Similarly, the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is reported to have also opted to submit the name of his campaign Director General, Doyin Okupe, as his dummy/ place holding running mate. Whereas Section 29(1) of the 2022 Electoral Act, as amended, provides that political parties shall submit names of their candidates, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for the general election, Section 31 of the Act also gives the political parties an opportunity to withdraw and substitute their candidates, not later than 90 days before the election Section 31 states that “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for such election, and the political party shall covey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 90 days to the election”. The Commission had, as part of its administrative arrangements, given up till 6pm of Friday June 17, 2022, as deadline for the submission of names of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly election; and 15th July, 2022, for the Governors and State Assembly candidates. In fulfilment of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, the Commission gave July 15, 2022, as last day for withdrawal by candidates and replacement of withdrawn candidates by the political parties. Similarly, the Commission also gave the parties up to August 12, for the withdrawal and replacement of withdrawn candidates by the political parties. This means that the parties who are still facing crises over the choice of running mates, still have until the July 15, 2022 to substitute the names being forwarded at the moment, with respect to the Presidential candidates. (To be continued next week). THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Election days come and go. But, the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent - a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice - that struggle continues”. (Bernie Sanders)

VII

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

INSIGHT ABUBAKAR D. SANI

FAPS2001@YAHOO.COM

The Challenges of Widowhood in Nigeria

he Cambridge Online Dictionary defines a widow as “a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again”. The United Nations set aside June 23rd of every year to be observed as International Widows’ Day, for the purpose of addressing the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents across the world, and to generate awareness of the issue of widowhood. Although the Chinwe Bode Akinwande Foundation, estimates that there are over eight million disadvantaged widows who cater for over 21 million children in Nigeria, accurate statistics on the number and demographics of Nigerian widows are hard to come by. There is, however, a considerable volume of literature on their condition and challenges. All of them agree on one thing: the death of their husbands often leave widows holding the short end of the stick. They are invariably disadvantaged in every possible way. In this connection, it appears that the experience of Nigerian widows, is somewhat worse than those of their counterparts across the world. Accordingly, it would be appropriate to review the situation globally, before coming closer to home. Widows Across the World In a review by the United Nations (https:// www.unwomen.org), the world body reports that “apart from the feeling of trauma, grief or loss following the death of their husband, widows often face economic insecurity, discrimination, stigmatisation and harmful traditional practices, simply because of their marital status. In many countries, widows do not have equal inheritance rights, they may be stripped of their land, evicted from their homes or even separated from their children. Furthermore, they may be denied access to inheritance, bank accounts and credit, which can have significant financial impact on them, their children and future generations”. The World Body estimates that, globally, one in ten widows lives in extreme poverty. Continuing, it says that “women are also much less likely to have access to pensions than men, so the death of their husbands can lead to destitution for older women. On the other hand, child widows (aged under 18 at the time of marriage) often experience multiple rights violations and have to cope with (sometimes for life) the impact of premature marriage and widowhood. At least 1.36 million out of the approximately 258 million widows worldwide, are child widows”. The Report adds that “in addition to facing economic insecurity, widows may be subject to stereotypes, prejudices and harmful traditional practices with severe consequences. They may face restrictions on their dress, diet and mobility, long after the death of their husbands”. It goes on to say that “in certain contexts, widows may be perceived as “carriers” of disease and forced out of social structures entirely, or subjected to “ritual cleansing” practices involving forced sex or bodily scarring that can have life-threatening health consequences. Sometimes, widows are forcibly “passed on” to or “inherited” by a new designated partner, such as the brother or other relative of her deceased husband, denying her

of her rights to safety, bodily autonomy, justice and dignity in life after loss”. The Report goes on to review how widowhood intersects with other forms of discrimination, making the following observations: “when a woman’s value is contingent on having a spouse, widowhood can force women out of familial and social structures, making them particularly vulnerable to poverty, isolation and violence. These challenges may be compounded by struggles that widows face on account of other intersecting identities, such as black and indigenous women, members of LGBTQI+ communities, women affected by conflict, women with disabilities, women of young and older ages, women living in poverty or rural areas and other marginalised identities”. In Africa and Nigeria In a post published on September 11, 2018 in http://blogs.worldbank.org titled, “Religion and Widowhood in Nigeria”, Dominique Van De Walle opined that “African widows often face considerable disadvantage relative to married women in their first union”, adding, however, that “how much so depends on the society they live in, with pronounced hardship in some contexts . . . In the absence of effective policies, their situation depends on the socio-cultural norms applying to women following widowhood”. She posits that the major religions – Islam and Christianity – differ markedly in their prescriptions in the event of what she calls “marital rupture”. According to her “Islamic inheritance law stipulates a better treatment of widows, than does customary family law which often applies to Christians. Islam as practised in West Africa, provides a semblance of a safety net to women who have suffered marriage dissolution, through high, and socially expected, remarriage rates facilitated by the continued practice of polygamy”. She

“Christian widows report a higher incidence of cruelty and violence at the hands of in-laws and consistently inferior inheritance outcomes, including significantly higher rates of dispossession than do Muslim widows.The greater acceptability and ease of remarriage through the practice of polygamy, also favours widowed Muslims”

further postulates that “among Christians, widowhood is associated with worse nutritional status, while the opposite (is the case with) Muslims”. Crucially, she adds that, “Christian widows report a higher incidence of cruelty and violence at the hands of in-laws and consistently inferior inheritance outcomes, including significantly higher rates of dispossession than do Muslim widows. The greater acceptability and ease of remarriage through the practice of polygamy, also favours widowed Muslims”. She, then, observes that, even though the incidence of widowhood among Muslim and Christian women is virtually equal, however, “once it happens, cultural and religious norms combine with a woman’s reproductive history and attributes to determine a widow’s welfare and life outcomes”. She, then, concludes that, overall, “Muslim widows fare better (than their Christian counterparts), despite (the former’s) worse overall endowments”. The Law Nigerian law guarantees equality of the sexes, and forbids discrimination between them under any circumstances. See MOJEKWU v MOJEKWU 1997 7 N.W.L.R. Pt. 512, where the Court of Appeal struck down as discriminatory, a custom among the Igbos of South-Eastern Nigeria, which allowed the son of the brother of a deceased male person to inherit his property to the exclusion of his female children. See also Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article II of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. Both Codes also guarantee the right to individual ownership of property, regardless of status (single or married) or circumstances (such as widowhood). See Article XIV of the Charter and Section 44(1) of the Constitution. This appears to be the pattern across the African continent. Regardless of this, however, as Marie Albertine Djuikom and Dominique Van De Walle observe in “Marital Shocks and Women’s Welfare in Africa”, page 6, “there continues to be a considerable chasm with actual practice. Civic law has been largely ineffective, in displacing customary law which often denies women’s rights. Two pillars of family law – inheritance and marriage – are still overwhelmingly controlled by customary law”. Notwithstanding the overall superior post-marital rupture outcomes of Muslim

widows, both Van de Walle and Djuikom cite traditional Islamic law “as typically practiced in Africa” which “dictates that daughters inherit half of what sons inherit, and that husbands are the sole owners of family property. Widows receive one-eighth of the inheritance, to be shared among many co-wives. Customary law also excludes women from property ownership and inheritance, in much of the rest of Africa. In the case of . . . widowhood, the rights are lost . . . in all marital ruptures, women run the risk of losing custody of children”. Conclusion In order to safeguard and advance widows’ rights, the World Bank suggests a range of actions that governments, policy makers and each of us can take. They are as follows: i. “Adopt(ing) social and economic reforms to improve widows’ access to inheritance, land pensions and other social protections. ii. “End(ing) discriminatory laws and patriarchal systems that have long disadvantaged women. Women cannot inherit equally as men in 36 countries, cannot be heads of households or families in 31 countries and cannot have a job or pursue a profession in 17 countries. Such discriminatory laws rob widows of property, shelter, income, social benefits and opportunity. iii. Empower(ing) widows to support themselves and their families and (to) live with dignity by ensuring access to education and training opportunities, decent work and equal pay, and by reversing social stigmas that exclude, discriminate or lead to harmful and violent practices against widows. iv. Collect(ing) gender data, that is, better quality demographic information, broken down by age and gender, to ensure that widows are counted and supported, now and in the future”. The World Body suggests the inclusion of “widow and not remained” among marital status categories when collecting census data. v. Support(ing) international efforts and advocacy to uphold and expand the rights of widows, as enshrined in international laws and conventions. vi. On International Widows’ Day, (to) learn and share stories and experience of widows and support their rights”. (Culled from https://www.unwomen.org accessed on 22nd June, 2022 at 1400hrs). To this, we can add Dominique Van de Walle’s belief in “the important role that policy could play in protecting often young women who experience the misfortune of widowhood” (published in “Religion and Widowhood in Nigeria”, Sept. 11, 2018, www://blog.worldbank. org, accessed on 23rd June, 2022 at 1100hrs).

VIII

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

Roland Ewubare

‘2023 Transition Will be Pivotal for a Better Nigeria’ Roland Ewubare is one Nigerian Lawyer who can be described as a Jack of all trades and a Master of all! He has traversed the global legal sphere as an academic, human rights practitioner, oil and gas expert, and innately, a philanthropist. In a down-to-earth chat, he shared his interesting journey with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi right through till his resignation as a Chief Operating Officer at NNPC in July 2020 for personal reasons which he explained. He answered several questions which have agitated the minds of Nigerians on gas flaring, the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act, the impact that the Dangote Refinery will have on Nigeria and our oil industry, and what we can do to optimise our mineral resources

et us begin by wishing you many happy and hearty returns on your 55th birthday and a warm welcome back to Lagos Thank you so very much for the opportunity to have this conversation with you. It’s always a delight to be back home. There’s something about the vibe and pulse of Nigeria, that you can never experience in diaspora. Your career so far, has deﬁnitely been robust and varied, and you’ve held senior positions in ﬁelds that are not even related, ranging from law practice to private equity, to human rights, to oil and gas exploration. It’s like you are a Jack of all trades and a master of all! Has your legal training been helpful in your career pursuits? It’s a hilarious way to start this interview; but, on a serious note you must agree that legal education provides the best platform to segue into almost any career. It sets you up for pretty much any and everything, because critical thinking and thoughtful analysis are what you master as you train to become a Lawyer. I am very proud of my legal credentials, and even when people address me as an engineer or whatever, I am very quick

to correct them and remind them that I’m a Lawyer and very proudly so. We know you have two Master of Laws degrees, one from Queen Mary College, University of London, and the other from Harvard Law School. You started off as an Academic, teaching at the Nigerian Law School; then you left for the United States where you worked in New York as a Corporate Associate in one of the largest law firms in the world; subsequently, you served in Schlumberger, a foremost oilfield services company as Corporate Counsel in New York and returned as an Executive Director of Schlumberger in Nigeria. You then left Schlumberger to return to the US to start a private equity firm with some partners, before taking a leave of absence to return to Nigeria to become the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission. With the benefit of hindsight, what would you say about the Commission; is it a toothless bulldog, or is it able to deliver on its mandate to Nigerians? I’m glad you asked this question, because it’s a very important one given where we are

“It sets you up for pretty much any and everything, because critical thinking and thoughtful analysis are what you master as you train to become a Lawyer”

today as a nation. You see the Commission we have today, is not the same Commission we had when I arrived to start my gig as Executive Secretary in 2009. At that time, the Commission was essentially a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Justice. We got our funding from the Ministry, and we were not truly independent. So, one of the most critical tasks I set for myself as Executive Secretary, was to unwind and alter the entire philosophical construct of the Commission. Working with civil society partners and the Attorneys-General I served under, namely, Mike Aondoakaa and Bello Adoke, we rewrote the enabling statute of the NHRC. The new enabling law, set the NHRC up to be totally independent and isolated from the influence of the executive branch of government. As you know, the draft law provided security of tenure for the Executive Secretary, with a stipulation that his or her removal could only be achieved upon a request by President supported by a resolution backed by twothirds of the Senate. The funding of the NHRC, was also made a first line charge to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. We pushed the amended law hard and vigorously, and Attorney-General Adoke was its champion, till it was eventually passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Jonathan. Passing that law was a massive personal achievement for me, and remains one of my proudest professional accomplishments. I had almost three years left on my tenure, but I resigned in 2011 to return return to the US for family reasons, and to resume making real money in the private equity boom that was then unfolding

from the ashes of the financial crises that took out Lehman Brothers and almost crippled the global economy. So, today, the NHRC has the full authority and power to fulfil its mandate, and I believe they’ve done well. Of course, every human institution has room for improvement, but given the fiscal and financial constraints that all public entities in Nigeria currently feel, I’d say the NHRC had done well, all things considered. Let’s talk about your career in oil and gas, including your time at the NNPC where you rose to become the Chief Operating Ofﬁcer of the Upstream Directorate, and later Chief Operating Ofﬁcer of the Ventures Directorate. How did you get your start in oil and gas? Thank you for asking! My first introduction to big oil, was about a quarter of a century ago. In 1998 to be precise. At the time I was an Associate in Mergers & Acquisitions at Skadden Arps in New York, and the firm had just been retained by Mobil Corporation to advise it in its proposed merger with Exxon Corporation. I was staffed on the deal. When we announced the deal on December 1, 2008, it was the largest merger ever in history with deal value of $81 Billion, and it created the 3rd largest company in the world at that time. The deal closed in November of 2009, which means we were working on the nuts and bolts of the deal for almost a year. In that time, I got to learn the dynamics of oil and gas at a high level, and I found it so fascinating. As fortune would have it, some time in 2000 I got a random call from a headhunter asking me to come interview for an in-house position in an energy company. The caller didn’t disclose the name of the company. Anyway, I went for the interview, and it turned out to be Schlumberger the largest oilfield services company in the world.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

‘2023 Transition Will be Pivotal for a Better Nigeria’ cont'd from pageVII

On the spot they hired me as Corporate Counsel to manage all their mergers, acquisitions and divestitures across the world. It was a massive role, covering about 120 countries. I was 33 years old, and I stepped into the industry just as the global economy was about to enter a massive growth phase powered heavily by the energy from oil. Very interesting, so you came into the industry as a Lawyer, how did you then end up in operational råoles that are typically occupied by Engineers and Geologists? Yes, I started in the legal department, but I very quickly began to pine for an operational role, and many of the operational guys I worked with liked my approach to solving legal problems. You see, many Lawyers are skilled at identifying and highlighting impediments to operations. I had a different mindset. I believed my role expended beyond the identification of legal issues; I felt it incumbent upon me, to provide solutions and fixes to business problems. Turns out business managers and operations people really appreciate that mindset, in an in-house Lawyer. So, based on feedback to my bosses and other factors, I very quickly got promoted to General Counsel and Company Secretary of one of the major subsidiaries of Schlumberger. That was in 2002, and that prompted my relocation from New York to San Jose, slam bam in the centre of Silicon Valley in California. That promotion was a transformational move for me in many ways, and barely two years later, that subsidiary was spun off as a separate company in an equity carve out. The successor company was subsequently listed on the NASDAQ, and eventually acquired by a competitor for $660 million. I received a significant deal completion bonus, and was ready to cash out and move on. My intention was to return to Nigeria, to start my own business. Then something curious happened. The Director of Human Resources in Schlumberger, refused to accept my resignation. Matter of fact, he flew from France to the US to see me, to make the case that I should consider an operational role in Nigeria to support the country operation there. The package he put on the table was compelling. Because I’d been recruited in the US, I was categorised as an international hire, and he offered me an expatriate relocation and compensation package to move to Nigeria. The sweetener he added, was that if I wasn’t happy with the role I could leave after six months. Needless to say, I took the offer, my wife and I bundled our 2 young kids and we moved to Nigeria. That’s how I ended up in Lagos as the Executive Director (Oilfield Services) of Schlumberger Nigeria, with full expatriate perks in a senior operational role. So, how did you end up at NNPC? Were you headhunted from Schlumberger? No, I didn’t come to NNPC directly from Schlumberger. I came to NNPC in August of 2015, as part of an outside team that was recruited into NNPC by the then GMD and later Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu. I’d known him previously on a personal level and he’s a super smart man whom I’d always looked up to, so the prospect of working with him to turn around NNPC was quite exciting. I was his very first hire, and I came to join his team from the US where I was a Partner in a private equity firm in Atlanta. Understood. So, was it difﬁcult making another transition back to Nigeria and into NNPC? I always characterise my relationship with Nigeria. as akin to a relationship with a bad but irresistible lover. Like when I’m away from Nigeria, I miss the vibe and the energy of the country; but, when I come back home, I am very quickly reminded of why I left in the first place! For me, transitioning in and out of Nigeria is not really a hassle. It was tougher when my sons were younger, because relocation meant we had to worry about moving them to new schools, worry about the cultural shift and the

Roland Ewubare

transition shock to them and all that stuff. By the time I came back to Nigeria in 2015 to do my NNPC tour of duty, my sons were teenagers and had zero interest in coming to Nigeria. I think they’d already figured out that their father was a restless and adventurous soul, and wanted no part of my constant movement. So, I pretty much came alone with my suitcases and settled into my first role as Managing Director of IDSL which is the for-profit seismic subsidiary of NNPC. My immediate boss was Dr Maikanti Baru of blessed memory, who at the time was the Group Executive Director of the Exploration and Production Directorate. With the support of Dr Kachikwu who was GMD as well as Dr Baru, my IDSL management team and I were able to turn the fortunes of IDSL from a loss making venture into a profitable multibillion Naira venture before I left for a new position two years later. That’s quite fascinating. You also served as the Group General Manager (GGM) of NNPC’s National Petroleum Investments Management Services (NAPIMS) before you were promoted to Chief Operating Ofﬁcer. What exactly did that role entail? NAPIMS is the heart of the entire Nigerian oil industry. Think of it as the domicile of all our oil and gas assets, as a country. It’s that simple. All of Nigeria’s joint venture and production sharing contractual interests in the multinational and indigenous companies, are managed by NAPIMS on behalf of the Federation. Everything to do with exploration and production, including the management of our cash call obligations, falls under NAPIMS. So, you can imagine the ripple effect when I was appointed as the GGM NAPIMS. I believe I was the first non-Engineer or Geoscientist, ever appointed to the superintend over the work program and budget of Nigeria’s oil industry. The learning curve was steep, but my team and I engaged our industry partners and

“If you have to run an oil operation in an environment where your host community youth kidnap your expatriate staff, vandalise your pipelines and consistently sabotage your operations, you would have a hard time justifying to your shareholders why you need to remain in that environment, when there are other countries happy to welcome you and your investment.You’ve got to realise that, the investment dollar only goes to where it is welcome”

players, and we had an amazing run with two straight years of surpluses in trillions of Naira delivered to the treasury. It might interest you to know that, the two subsequent appointees to the GGM NAPIMS position after me have also been non-Engineers and non-Geoscientists. We broke the glass ceiling there, if you ask me. You resigned in July 2020 as a Chief Operating Ofﬁcer of NNPC. In Nigeria, its very unusual to ﬁnd people resigning like you did. What informed such a decision? Ikepo, in July 2020 the world was in the grip of a vicious pandemic. There really was a global lockdown and restriction of movement, except in narrow humanitarian circumstances. I was in Nigeria, away from my family. You recall people were dying, and folks had to hold zoom funerals for loved ones. That was the horrifying spectre that prevailed, and I really was terrified. I have to confess. I had anxiety and panic attacks about my family, and whether they’d ever see me alive again. In this frame of mind, I decided I had to pack it all up and return to my family and that’s what I did. I consulted with my boss and big brother, the GMD, Mele Kyari, and he understood fully where I was coming from. He was so compassionate, and kindly suggested that I should go to Atlanta and work remotely from there. Now, remember no one had any idea about how long the pandemic would last or how soon the vaccine would come, and I felt it would be unfair for me to be away from the rest of the management team indefinitely. It would have been convenient for a few weeks, but the difference in time zones and other handicaps would have made it untenable for such an arrangement to work in perpetuity. So, he kindly presented my resignation to Mr President, who very graciously accepted. The same day I jumped on a humanitarian evacuation flight, and exited stage and left. So, let us ask you a broad policy question: why are the oil majors divesting and leaving Nigeria? Is there anything about our regulatory or operational environment that makes them reluctant to stay? Nigeria is a tough place to live, for the ordinary citizen. It is a tougher place to do business and thrive, irrespective of the business in question. It’s tough to run a law firm, it’s tough to run a bank and it’s super tough to run a complex business involving exploration and production of oil and gas. That’s the truth, and we have to accept it. Historically, the oil majors have been able to manage the tough business environment in Nigeria, because of the allure of the

richness of the hydrocarbon resource base in Nigeria. We have abundant reserves of high grade and in demand hydrocarbons. Sadly, that equation is fast changing. There’s rich oil and gas deposits in all corners of the world. Here in Africa, there’s oil in Ghana, Mauritania, Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and I could go on and on. Bottom line, Nigeria is no longer the only spot with hydrocarbon deposits. The oil majors now have multiple options, and in deciding where to deploy or retain their investment dollars, they focus on cost of operations. In oil and gas, we measure everything from the perspective of cost. What’s the Unit Technical Cost per barrel? What’s the complexion of operating expenses and capital expenses? It is the answers to these questions, that drive the investment decision. The cost profile in Nigeria has been escalating aggressively, for almost 30 years. If you ask me, I would say the agitation in the Nigeria Delta laid the seeds for cost escalation. People of the region complained rightly about neglect, exploitation and despoliation of the region, and rather than engage intelligently with the indigenes of the Niger Delta, the then military government responded with a militarisation thesis. It didn’t work, and it only led to more agitation and outright hostility to the oil producing companies. They in turn, responded by increasing their security budgets. By the time I arrived Nigeria as Executive Director of Schlumberger our security expense was the second highest line item in our variable cost budget. Totally ridiculous state of affairs. That was 20 years ago. I hesitate to imagine what the costs are today. If you have to run an oil operation in an environment where your host community youth kidnap your expatriate staff, vandalise your pipelines and consistently sabotage your operations, you would have a hard time justifying to your shareholders why you need to remain in that environment when there are other countries happy to welcome you and your investment. You’ve got to realise that the investment dollar only goes to where it is welcome. Now that you have brought this conversation to host community issues with oil companies, why is it easier to sue these oil majors overseas in their home countries for breaches that occur in Nigeria? Doesn’t that state of affairs deprive Nigerian Lawyers of the work and fee income? I like how you keep dragging me back to my roots as a Lawyer. You see, a Plaintiff who suffers injury wants justice and compensation. I’m not sure they care about the venue where the justice is delivered. That’s just plain human nature. I think the real question here has to be couched differently, in other words, why is it so hard to get justice in Nigeria? I believe that is the real question. If an Ogoni man could get a judgement against Shell for example from a cont'd on page X

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

‘2023 Transition Will be Pivotal for a Better Nigeria’ cont'd from page IX

Nigerian court that would be enforceable in a timely manner, why would he need to go to New York or The Hague to sue? It all boils down to the administration of justice framework in Nigeria. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s also a small issue of litigation strategy around what we call the “deep pocket” theory. What this means is that you sue the parent company abroad, because they have a lot more money and resources that you can attach if you secure a judgement. That said, I believe the stress and anguish of grinding through the judicial process locally, puts many people off. People just say “to hell with it”, and they file suit abroad. In terms of depriving Nigerian Lawyers of work, that may not be entirely so, because even if you file these suits abroad, you’ll need local counsel on the team. Can you speak to the volatility of oil prices and the rush by the first world to find alternatives to oil, and how Nigeria can optimise its oil resources whilst we stay relevant with renewable energy? Let me begin with the resource optimisation question, as that’s a lot easier. We just need to ask ourselves, how others have successfully done the same thing. How have Norway, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others optimised their own oil and generated enormous development? Why reinvent the wheel, when there’s a template of success that you can copy? The problem with us as a people is that we make very simple things complicated, and make very complicated things appear simple. That’s the problem. Instead of fighting the oil majors and whining and complaining about how they are cheating us, we need to develop a proper compact that encourages them to invest in Nigeria. The more investment they make here, the more jobs are created and the multiplier effect on the economy is massive when you tie in the local content linkages. Unfortunately, our policy makers and lawmakers haven’t seen the logic of this approach. Instead they’ve adopted a nationalistic focus that hones in on increasing the immediate revenue to government, by enacting legislation to alter the sharing and distribution of oil revenues between the government and its partners. The result of this has been a near total freeze on investment by the oil majors in Nigeria. How do you do business in a country where you provide your own power, you provide your security, the infrastructure is deficient, and then the same government seeks to claw back your assumed and projected share of profit by what’s essentially retroactive legislation? Would you stay if it was you? Now as far the question on renewable energy goes, my personal take is to totally discount the conversation as a waste of time as far Nigeria and the developing world is concerned. In fact, any conversation about renewable energy irritates me, because it smacks of gross hypocrisy. The industrialised world which polluted and destroyed the environment in order to power its development, now tells us to slow down or even stop exploration and production of oil and gas because it exacerbates global warming and climate change. How dare they? It’s total nonsense. The entire African continent contributes less than 3% of all greenhouse emissions, so, why should we be the ones to bear the brunt of fixing a mess we did not create? I recall being a speaker on a panel at an energy conference in Abu Dhabi before the Covid lockdown, and this same debate about renewable energy came up. I told them that we have no reliable grid electricity, so any talk of migration to electric vehicles is meaningless to us. I don’t think there are up to five Tesla or other electric cars in Nigeria. We are still at that stage where people still use firewood for cooking and for basic energy needs, and they want to talk to me about electric cars and wind farms and solar power. Total nonsense. No country in this world, has attained development from sole reliance on renewable energy. My apologies for being heated and emotional on this issue. It really irks me. Let’s talk about gas flaring. Isn’t there a better way for us harness all our gas resources,

Roland Ewubare

instead of just burning the gas and creating environmental problems? The simple answer is yes, we can do a lot better with our gas assets. The truth is Nigeria is really a gas basin, with some little oil. Gas is where we have a dominant position, in terms of aggregate proven and probable reserves. There’s some valid operational reasons why gas is flared, but given our severe energy deficiency as a country, we really should be sequestering and capturing gas that would ordinarily be flared as a result of upstream production activity. The problem is that the regulatory framework and requisite infrastructure to support elimination of flaring is nascent, if not moribund. So, the operators just drill for their oil, and the associated gas that they encounter is either re-injected into the well or burnt as flare, and they happily pay the penalty which is imposed for flaring. It’s that same deficient framework that has made it more profitable for us as country to export our gas in liquified form to global markets, whilst our domestic need remains unmet. Let me follow up on the points you’ve just raised about exporting gas versus utilising the gas locally to develop Nigeria. Why are we in such a situation? In simple terms, there two markets available for our gas resources. The international market which we supply with Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and the domestic market which we supply to support the power generation companies, as well as manufacturing and other commercial type entities. By far the largest consumers of domestic gas are the power generating companies, which really are privatised assets of government with major residual baggage from historical operations. Many of them really, are technically insolvent. So, they can’t even pay on time for the gas they are supplied with. If you are a producer of gas, wouldn’t you rather sell to the export market where you have a guaranteed 30 year contract with pricing in US Dollars? Would you be inclined to develop a gas processing plant only to sell the gas you produce to local Naira paying companies who wouldn’t even pay you? That’s the reality. We have policy instruments that impose a domestic supply obligation on the oil companies, but in reality, you cannot force them to undertake gas development projects given the facts on ground. In my time at NAPIMS we sanctioned the Assa North Ohaji Gas Project and took the Final Investment Decision (FID) at a cost of $1.6 billion, if I recall correctly. That’s serious

“As far as Nigeria goes, I think the 2023 transition will be pivotal one, and the future for Nigeria is bright if we tackle the problem of the big elephant in the middle of the room which no one is talking about, namely, the large number of out of school children, and the demographic explosion that confronts us”

money, and that’s what it costs to build gas processing plants. So, again, I ask you why would you deploy that quantum of cash to support Nigerian customers who won’t pay? Same way they refuse to pay their Lawyers, is the same way they refuse to pay gas bills. In fairness to the power companies, they themselves are owed by the consumers of power, so it’s a vicious cycle of bad debtors! What impact will the Dangote Reﬁnery have on the economy, and do you have any thoughts on deregulation of the price of petrol? The Dangote Refinery is an absolute game changer. It’s a massive project that, upon completion, will impact our economy almost immediately in profound ways. We are talking about a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels a day. That quantity of refined products will more than meet our consumption, and there’ll be abundant supplies left for export. We are talking self sufficiency and energy security on one hand, and conservation of foreign exchange which we currently use for importation of fuel products. As far as the deregulation question goes, both sides of the debate have meritorious arguments, but we must be honest about our economic situation. We are not a rich country. We also haven’t evolved to the point where we have robust enough processes to manage a subsidy regime, without brazen corruption and outright thievery. So, rather than waste our lean resources on subsidising a false price for petrol, let’s for example use the N4 trillion in this year’s subsidy budget to support the development of transport infrastructure, to enable mass movement of citizens. In any event, as long as our neighbouring countries have a deregulated petrol pricing regime, our own regulated pricing creates a loophole for arbitrage through cross-border smuggling. It’s tough but it’s one of those bitter-pill type scenarios. We have to do what we need to do. We need to completely deregulate the pricing of petroleum products. Let’s move on to the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 and it’s impact, if any, and if you could please tell us about how the host community provisions would bring about peace in the Niger Delta. The new Act is a welcome development, to the extent that it has consolidated the various pieces of existing legislation into a single updated document. That’s commendable. That said, my opinion is that the Act is a little too late in coming. The conversation about a robust legislation, started over 20 years ago. We wasted too much time going back and forth, and I fear the global oil industry has moved on and left us behind. When we started talking about the then PIB, Guyana as a country wasn’t producing a single drop of oil. They started production late in 2019, and in March ExxonMobil announced that they would be producing 1.2 million barrels a day in

Guyana by 2027. That’s more than half of what Nigeria produces at peak capacity. So, whilst we were blowing grammar and arguing back and forth in the National Assembly for 20 years over PIB, the rest of the world was moving on and eating our lunch in the process. Our new Act is, as they say, in Texas, a day late and a dollar short. Now, the host community conversation is a whole different bowl of wax. It is now so complicated that, I’m not quite sure if the host community trust fund alone will resolve the issue. We must accept that whilst there’s some genuine and sincere agitation, there’s also significant criminality masquerading as resource control agitation. I am an Urhobo man, from deep in the Niger Delta. Forget my fancy credentials and speaking of English, I have some intimacy with the issues that generated initial agitation in the swamps and creeks. Those issues will need to be addressed in a comprehensive manner, that goes beyond just throwing money into bureaucratic entities like the NDDC or the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. That approach even creates more problems, as we have all seen with the recent probes and drama involving those agencies. An absolute shame. Now that you have attained the grand old age of 55 as you like to put it, what are your thoughts on life and the future of Nigeria, and do you have any plan to return home to serve again? I am truly grateful to the God, for the life of adventure that he’s led me through so far. I have at different times been an academic, a Wall Street deal Lawyer, in-house counsel at a global corporation, a senior executive in a publicly traded company in Silicon Valley; I headed the National Human Rights Commission, I’ve been a Limited Partner in a private equity firm in the US; I headed two major NNPC entities, and became Chief Operating Officer of two different directorates in NNPC. It really has been an amazing run. In the past 25 years, I’ve lived in 26 homes in 10 cities in three continents. I’m done. It’s time to retire, and settle down. As far as Nigeria goes, I think the 2023 transition will be pivotal one, and the future for Nigeria is bright if we tackle the problem of the big elephant in the middle of the room which no one is talking about, namely, the large number of out of school children, and the demographic explosion that confronts us. If the economy is well managed and we see meaningful GDP growth, then we will be fine. The alternative is too harrowing to consider. As for my personal plans going forward, I have zero desire to return to Nigeria to seek private or public sector employment. I’m already back to doing what I enjoy most, which is teaching. Last semester I taught a class on energy policy and climate change as a visiting Professor at Georgia Tech. Next year, I’m planning to teach a seminar group at Harvard Law School on Climate Change. These endeavours, keep me intellectually stimulated. I still have an active role in private equity, and that’s where I make the money to feed my family and do philanthropy. So I’m good. Thank you Roland, for an extremely interesting and informative interview.

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T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

IMAGES

XIII Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: State Minister of Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora; Director-General /CEO, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Obi Peter Adigwe; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mahmuda Mamman; and Chairman, Board of NIPRD, Dr. John Alfa, at the presentation of a letter of reappointment to Adigwe in Abuja…recently

L-R: Director of Administration, Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, Babarinda Olaleye; President, Yoruba Council Worldwide/Nigerian Youths Coalition, Oladotun Hassan; and Chief Executive Director, APASE Luxury Homes, Alhaji Ismail Apase, at a press conference on the State of the Nation, 2023 Agenda and National Development, and ‘Our Support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Bid’, held in Abuja...recently PHOTO: AYO AJAYI

L-R: Head of Customer Marketing International Premium Spirits, Reserve and Modern Trade (IRM), Guiness Nigeria Plc, Sammy Okwandu; IRM Director, Viola Graham-Douglas; winner of World Class Nigeria 2022, the world largest and most exclusive bartending competition, Victor Obanya; Director, Marketing and Innovations, Mark Mugisha; and Head of Reserve, Ope Makinwa, all of Guinness Nigeria Plc during the ﬁnale of World Class Nigeria 2022 in Lagos...recently

L-R: Executive Director, Women in Business (WIMBIZ) and Chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Hansatu Adegbite; former Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Iru LCDA and a speaker at the debate, Mr. Olumide Thompson; Co-founder, WIMBIZ, Mrs. Adeola Azeez; and Chairperson, Women in Politics (WIMPol) Mentoring Mock Presidential Debate, Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, during the mock presidential debate and graduation ceremony of WIMPol under the WIMBIZ advocacy held in Victoria Island, Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: General Manager, Surveillance, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ehimeme Ohioma; Managing Director, Veritas Glanvil Pension, Godson Ukpevo; Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Oguche Agudah; Commissioner of PenCom, Charles Emukowhate; another Commissioner of PenCom, Clement Akintola; Managing Director, Access PFC, Idu Okwuosa; Director-General, PenCom, Aisha Dahiru Umar; General Manager, Progress Trust CPFA, Joy Ojakovo; President of Penop and Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Pensions, Olumide Oyetan; Commissioner of PenCom, Anyim Nyerere; MD, First PFC, Oloruntimilehin George; and Company Secretary, PenCom, Muhammad Sanni, during a consultative forum between Pencom and PenOp in Abuja…recently

L-R: Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources (the Akarigbo of Remoland), HRM Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the university, Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwukah; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva; Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh; and honorary degree awardee and Group Managing Director, ARCO Group Plc, Mr. Alfred Okoigun, during the third convocation ceremony of the university in Eﬀurun, Delta State...recently PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

XIV

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Tackling Trends, New Tricks in Human Trafﬁcking On the go, thousands of Nigerians continuously fall into the hands of human traffickers who exploit and violate their human rights, while subjecting them to inhuman treatment and untold hardship, within and outside the shores of Nigeria. To build on the successes recorded so far in tackling this menace, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, in collaboration with European Union, FIIAPP under A-TIPSOM, recently held a capacity development orientation on requisite knowledge of current tricks and trends used by these traffickers to lure their victims

ver the years, human traffickers employ tricks to lure their victims. Often times, these tricks come in the form deceit, oath taking before departure, threat, position of power/influence, false job advertisements, debt bondage, forced marriage, seduction and romance, lies about educational or travel opportunities, abduction, trafficking for sex work, forced marriage, forced labour, rituals, debt bondage, organ transplant and baby sale etc But nowadays, emerging trends and tricks are the new order. These emerging trends and tricks by traffickers involve integrated technology at every stage of the process- from recruiting to exploiting victims. With these new threats, the traffickers commit violation of the right to life, security, dignity of the human person, access to justice, healthcare, denial of right to return to community and rights of family life.

Human Trafﬁcking Globally, human trafficking is the fastest growing organised crime. It is a multibillion dollar industry and second among transnational organised crime that exacts high human cost which leaves many trapped in exploitative situations worldwide. Essentially, the process of trafficking begins with the abduction or recruitment of a person and continues with the transportation. In case of transnational trafficking, the process continues with the entry of the individual into another country. The United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) defines human trafficking as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of cohesion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or of a position of vulnerability or of giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation." According to reports, United Nations ranked human trafficking as the second largest crime network against humanity valued at $150 billion while the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated that 40.3 million victims are currently trapped in different forms of human trafficking across the globe with Nigeria having a large pool out of this. The Nigerian Situation In Nigeria, human trafficking is the third rated criminal act. This is according to the 2021 Trafficking report of the US Department of State, which placed the country on the Tier 2 Watch List. Every year, dozens of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers who exploit them, violate their human rights and subject them to inhuman treatments and untold hardship, within and outside the shores of Nigeria. According to the report by UNTOC and the supplementing Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, Nigeria was rated one of the leading African countries in the illicit trade, with interior, cross-border and crosscountry trafficking. The report also showed that several Nigerian women have been subjected to forced labour and prostitution in other countries. Recently, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafﬁcking in Persons (NAPTIP) Director General, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, disclosed that 20,000 young Nigerian women were trapped in Mali and living in shanties in mining areas where they were being sexually exploited. Represented by NAPTIP Director of Public Enlightenment, Mr Josiah Emerole, at a recent media training, the DG said Nigeria continues to experience high and external migration due to huge population, economic climate, poverty and porous borders, adding that "many victims are still stranded in a number of West

Cross section of participants at the training Africa countries as they cannot move further to Europe and are living in dangerous conditions. "Most of this trafficked persons engage in prostitution for a fee equivalent to N150 which would be collected by those who trafficked them there". Trafﬁcking Routes, Destinations According to him, the trafficking routes and destination countries include Nigeria (Kano) to Saudi Arabia (Middle East) for prostitution and begging); from Nigeria to Niger Republic to Libya to Europe (for prostitution); from Nigeria to Burkina Faso to Mali to Morocco to Europe (for prostitution); from Nigeria to Morocco to Middle East (for prostitution); Nigeria to Cote d’Ivoire to Burkina Faso to Mali (graduated from Transit to Destination; from Nigeria to Cameroun to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea (domestic and agricultural labour). Evolution of NAPTIP As the agency charged to tackle this menace, their brief is tasking. Created on July 14, 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2003, the agency is the Federal Government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of trafficking in persons. It was in fulfillment of the country’s international obligation under the Trafficking in Persons Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the UNTOC of which Nigeria became a signatory to the UNTOC and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol on December 13, 2000. Although the Bill was passed by the National Assembly on July 7, 2003 and Presidential Assent given on July 14, 2003, the law

which is operational throughout the country created NAPTIP as a specific multi-disciplinary crime-fighting agency and the nation’s focal institution to fight the scourge of trafficking in persons in the country using the four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership. The Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 went through an amendment in 2005 in a bid to further strengthen the agency. However, in 2015, as a result of the new trends in the crime of trafficking in persons and the need to further strengthen the institutional framework, the Act was repealed and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 was enacted. The new Act received Presidential assent on March 26, 2015. Accordingly, the roles of the agency include to enforce and administer the provisions of this Act; co-ordinate and enforce all other laws on Trafficking in persons and related offences; adopt effective measures for the prevention and eradication of trafficking in persons and related offences; and establish co-ordinated preventive, regulatory and investigatory machinery geared towards the eradication of trafficking in persons. Successes Unarguably, NAPTIP has built on its existing operational platform to ensure the achievement of its constitutional mandate both nationally and internationally. Essentially, they have given a new lease of life to survivors by rehabilitating and sponsoring their education and skills acquisition. In terms of successes recorded so far, NAPTIP has rehabilitated and reintegrated more than 17,000 trafficked victims between 2003 and 2021. Already, 13 of the rescued victims were sponsored to the university and have graduated, while three of them are currently working with the agency. On the other hand, it has also effected the arrest of scores of suspected human traffickers and secured the conviction of 516 of them since its formation. But despite the successes achieved so far, there is always room for more given the sensitive nature of their job which involves lives.

Every year, dozens of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers who exploit them, violate their human rights and subject them to inhuman treatments and untold hardship, within and outside the shores of Nigeria

Boost to the Fight against Human Trafﬁcking Therefore, the fight against human trafficking recently received a boost as NAPTIP, in collaboration with European Union, International and Ibero- American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) under the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM) project organised a three -day training in Asaba to equip journalists with the knowledge of human trafficking and the emerging tricks and trend of trafficking in persons in Nigeria and the world. The Capacity Development Orientation on Standard Reporting Template for members of the Trafficking in Media Corps and officers of Press and Public Relations unit saw NAPTIP and the media including NGOs and FRSC represented by Madam Honey hold deliberations on the way forward. Process, Causative Factors and Dangers of Human Trafﬁcking In the first paper, which was an overview of Human Trafficking, Mr. Emerole said the process of trafficking begins with the abduction or recruitment of a person and continues with the transportation adding that it is followed by the exploitation phase during which the victim is forced into sexual work, forced servitude or personnel for other criminal purposes, while a further phase occurs that does not involve the victim but the offender. He said: " Depending on the size and sophistication of the trafficking operation, the criminal (organisation) may find it necessary to launder the criminal proceeds. There may be further links to other criminal offences such as the smuggling of migrants, weapons or drugs." He listed crime associated with human trafficking as forgery, sale of babies, criminal force/assault, domestic servitude, criminal intimidation, fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, smuggling of migrants, abduction, murder, corruption, rape, organ harvesting, forced abortions, rituals and torture. He further went on to cite causative factors like poverty, lack of economic and educational opportunities, peer pressure, ignorance, conflicts and wars, clandestine nature of the crime, general unemployment, especially amongst young graduates; collapse of social safety nets, including the abuse of the traditional fostering by family members, and globalisation, as some of the underlying reasons why people indulge in human trafficking. He also added the strength of the foreign currencies compared with the local ones Demand for cheap labour; increasing global demand for illicit sex, wide-spread illiteracy that facilitates deception by traffickers, breakdown and erosion of cultural and moral values, greed on the part of parental figures who easily Continued on page XV

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

FEATURES

Tackling Trends, New Tricks in Human Trafficking

NAPTIP DG, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi fall prey to promises of monetary rewards, The lucrative nature of the crime which makes it attractive to traffickers, the activities of juju priests who put psychological pressure on victims through oaths, lack of adequate resources to combat the crime and porous borders. On the inherent dangers he classified them between physical, emotional and psychological. While the physical dangers include malnutrition, torture, exposure to unwanted pregnancies, forced and frequent abortions, infections and infectious diseases, STI’s, STD’s, HIV/AIDS, other crimes, stunted growth, and even death; emotional dangers posed include depression, hopelessness, guilt, shame, flashbacks, loss of confidence, anxiety and low self esteem The psychological include Post trauma stress disorder, depression, panic disorder, suicidal feelings, Stockholm syndrome, substance abuse, amongst others. Emerging Trends and Tricks Admitting that preventing Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a complex issue as the crime is clandestine in nature, Emerole said it has enslaved a lot of youths in Nigeria. On the emerging trends and tricks, he said: "Traffickers have integrated technology into their business model at every stage of the process, from recruiting to exploiting victims. Many children are approached or lured by traffickers on social media. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube and Twitter are amongst the most popular destinations on the web. "There’s no doubt that these sites have contributed negatively to the high level of cases involving human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Human traffickers use the social media as a tool in luring their victims through fake and enticing offers that are always too good to be true. "Two new social media trends traffickers use in getting their victims are Hunting and Fishing. "HUNTING” involving a trafficker actively pursuing a victim, typically on social media, "FISHING”, is when perpetrators post job advertisements and wait for potential victims to respond. "Technology can be misused by traffickers to launder or transfer illicit profits. Evidence of negative outcomes from these technologies such as sexual exploitation and modern day slave like activities organised via Facebook or jobs found through similar sites are well-known. "Note that Technology can also have a positive use in helping to combat the crime, such as aiding investigations, enhancing prosecutions, raising awareness, and providing services to victims." He cited some of the new trends as Commercial Surrogacy where a woman carries a child on behalf of a couple through a well defined arrangement to hand over the child to the commissioning couple (parents) at birth. He said: "The surrogacy trafficking trade use the same network that are used for domestic work and sex trade from poor regions into urban areas. Unmarried girls are impregnated with embryos without their consent. Others are confined in homes and when some girls try to run away, they are caught, brought back and beaten." On football trafficking he said this is the exploitation of young footballers in developing countries, particularly trafficking from South America and Africa into Europe and Asia. "Traffickers, representing themselves as "agents" of foreign football leagues, prey on families desperate for a better life for their children, convincing the families to pay the traffickers "fees" to create the opportunity for the players to try out for European football teams, then absconding with the money and often leaving the young footballers stranded in Europe and other parts of the world. "It is estimated that more than 15,000 children are trafficked into Europe every year with false

NAPTIP National PRO, Vincent Adekoye hopes of making it as professional footballers. Irrespective of the trend used in luring their victims, the goal of the traffickers is to exploit the victims." On orphanage trafficking (Orphanages recruiting children to attract donations), he said others are used to steal, bait and commit all sorts of crimes. Summarily, he said the fight against Human Trafficking requires a cohesive and coordinated approach supported by strong ICT security system, adding that " today, the battle against crime continues, and law enforcement agents have more tools at their disposal than ever before". Implications to National Development According to Emerole, the implications of human trafficking to national development cannot be wished away as it tarnishes reputation, fuels corruption among public officers, leads to other crimes that portends danger to national security and provides wealth to criminal enterprise, fuels irregular migration. Challenges in Dealing with Dangers of Human Trafﬁcking Over the course of carrying out the work at NAPTIP, some of the challenges faced include the fact that some family members are involved making it difficult for victims to speak out. He also pointed out that jurisdiction is a challenge to prosecutors, due to the transnational nature of TIP/SOM as acts and human rights violations may have occurred over a period and across different jurisdictions with some key culprits or victims/witnesses spread across various jurisdictions. Also, "local legislations are limiting in nature as not allowing for admission of certain electronic evidence and depositions of witnesses /victims in other countries during trial. Inadequate or almost non existing robust witness protection programmes makes it difficult to assure and secure cooperation of victims/witnesses. "This means that inadequate Local Legislation and capacity to conduct financial investigations that may expose other culprits and lead to forfeiture of proceeds of crime that would serve as a deterrent and provide funds which may be used to finance operations. "Lack of Judicial and prosecutorial cooperation between states, because sometimes a suspect may be arrested in a state where investigations will link him to just a minor crime, whereas a substantial and grievous offence must have been committed in another state; Weak and almost non existing

NAPTIP Director Public Enlightenment, Mr Josiah Emerole

Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition; "Some local laws and jurisdictions allow for non-custodial sentencing and reduced sentencing at the discretion of the judge, despite the express punishment provided for in the statute." Another challenge is ignorance on the part of the victims and lack of funds for NAPTIP to carry out robust grassroots awareness across the 774 LGAs of the nation. Also, with the inability of NAPTIP to get more and bigger shelters, this has hampered the chances of reintegrating more survivors, thus the bureaucratic bottleneck involving MDAs tends to affect the fight against human trafficking, endangering more lives of victims. Role of Media In his paper on NAPTIP and the Media, the agency's Public Relations Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, emphasised the need for the media to intensify reportage on human trafficking in order for accurate dissemination of the subject to every Nigerian, with a view to preventing more youths from falling victims to human traffickers. While clamouring for increased mutual working relationship between the media and NAPTIP, he opined that with the media being better informed about the emerging tricks, routes and trends in human trafficking, the victims will be more protected, their voices count and traffickers exposed. Corroborating in his presentation on the Role of the Media in combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria, President, Journalist International Forum for Migration, Dr. Ajibola Abayomi, said both the media and NAPTIP need to strengthen their partnership, build trust for impactful reportage of Traffic-in- Persons related issues. Essentially, Emerole said the media must see the fight as a responsibility and must do human interest reports on the issue to raise the consciousness of people while setting agenda for government on how to reduce vulnerability. Reporting Correctly Afterwards, participants were inundated with new and correct terminologies in migration reporting aimed at preventing misinformation, disinformation, as well as stigmatisation of victims by NAPTIP Lagos Command PRO, Mrs. Hajara Tunde-Osho. Commendation for NAPTIP In all, depsite burgeoning challenges faced by the agency, it was unanimously agreed that NAPTIP deserves commendation on the way they have built on the existing operational platforms to ensure the achievement of its mandate, both locally and internationally. Also, it was pointed out that the agency has helped to reduce activities of baby factory syndicates, as well as arrested dozens of suspected human traffickers, while rescuing the victims-cum-survivors of such human trafficking. But beyond receiving these returnee migrants from trafficked countries, NAPTIP has continuously assisted them to acquire some vocational skills and other educational qualifications. Most importantly, through the advocacy work they do, they have intensified the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Traﬃckers have integrated technology into their business model at every stage of the process, from recruiting to exploiting victims. Many children are approached or lured by traﬃckers on social media

(SGBV) across the country while cooperating with relevant agencies in the fight against human trafficking and child labour. Recommendations Essentially, at the end of the robust brainstorming, participants called for strong synergy between NAPTIP and other law enforcement agencies in tackling the menace of human trafficking (NAPTIP and sister agencies should share more data for enhanced reportage on Human Trafficking); and involvement of religious leaders in the sensitisation and campaign against human trafficking. They also tasked that media practitioners (to which they belong to) should volunteer and support anti-trafficking efforts in their communities, while NAPTIP should encourage the use of social media platforms to raise awareness on human trafficking using workable hashtags. Also, the media was charged to protect victims of human trafficking by concealing their names, pictures and home addresses in their reportage, while the federal government on the other hand must improve funding of NAPTIP given the sensitive work they carry out. Unanimously, the participants agreed that journalists should be regularly supported through adequate capacity building and financing to facilitate investigation of human trafficking stories and justice for victims while state government and private sectors should get more involved in anti trafficking initiatives through funding and provision of socio-economic empowerment programs. But getting to the root of the matter, it was agreed that since most of these activities are fueled by lack of social capital, government at all levels must live up to expectation by creating job opportunities for the teeming youths and provide security for all. Given the legal hurdles often encountered, it was agreed that Chief Judges of Federal, State and FCT High Courts, should as a matter of urgency designate more judges for accelerated hearing of human trafficking cases while government on the other hand should support the building of more shelters and skills acquisition centres for victims to hasten their psycho-social rehabilitation. Another important factor that was raised was the need for the federal government to create a space at the entry and exit points of the country for NAPTIP officials to identify and rescue potential victims and arrest suspected human traffickers. There is need for more collaboration between NAPTIP and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for adequate monitoring of activities of job recruiting agencies within and outside Nigeria. The communique also advocated for robust collaboration between NAPTIP and traditional institutions for enhanced information on activities of Human traffickers, while charging the media to do more on human trafficking reportage and it should be done from victim's perspective to avoid stigmatisation and re-traumatisation of victims. Government was charged to hand over abandoned shelters to NAPTIP while the agency should standardise its data collection process. In raising awareness on the dangers of trafficking in persons especially in rural communities in festive seasons, which is usually the recruitment period, the community members should be trained as agents of change and protection for women and children while naming and shaming perpetrators. Summarily, given the agenda setting role of the media, it has become imperative that they keep the issue of human trafficking on the front burner whilst giving it a human face. In all, while NAPTIP should improve on media advocacy and campaigns, there is a clarion call for all Nigerians to come onboard and tackle this menace.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT NCF Trains Park Rangers to Keep Lions Safe Bennett Oghifo

s human-wildlife conflicts, poaching, illegal grazing, and logging persists, most endangered species in Nigeria are left at the brink of extirpation or local extinction, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) with the support of IUCN Save Our Species and the European Union hosted a Geographical Information System (GIS) training workshop for Rangers of Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP). The training is part of the ongoing project titled “Emergency Rescue of Nigeria’s Last Populations of West African

Wildcats - Lion (Panthera leo) and Leopard (Panthera pardus) in Kainji Lake National Park. The workshop was held on Tuesday, 21st June 2022 at Federation of Borgu Youth Hall, New Bussa, Niger State. This project is designed to address the identified challenges of habitat degradation from unsustainable land use activities, animal poisoning and hunting pressure. The goal is to improve the conservation and range protection of lion & leopard in KLNP with 50% increase in park surveillance and 70% reduction in livestock invasion into the park by December 2023. The training’s objective is to improve rangers’ capacity for monitoring and interpreting data using GIS for effective

management decisions. Furthermore, rangers will be equipped with additional tools (drone, camera traps, GPS etc) to improve park surveillance and wildlife monitoring by December 2023. According to the Conservator of Park, CP Jimoh Oladosu while appreciating the initiative, he said “One of the benefits of the training is to improve on how to use some gadgets. We really appreciate NCF and IUCN for this initiative. It will make our rangers better and improve the park.” The workshop facilitator, a GIS expert, Dr. Michelle Fasona, in her statement said “The job of managing our national parks by rangers is usually challenging because

of the nature of their work. The training on the use of GIS for rangers is a good initiative. The use of GIS techniques is

a useful time-saving tool for rangers when surveying and gathering data from the field. The information gathered from

the use of GIS can help park rangers to make more informed decisions when managing the park’s resources”

NCF oﬃcials and National Park Rangers, after a training… recently

Adkan Estate Residents Bemoan Disruption of Gwarinpa Masterplan Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The residents of Adkan Estate in Gwarimpa, Abuja have decried what they described as a disruption of the estate masterplan by developers in collusion with the authorities. The Secretary of the estate’s board of Trustees, Mrs Chidinma Agomoh said the ongoing spate of developments at the estate

was making life difficult and unbearable for the residents. Agomoh, who spoke in the company of other officials of the estate association, including Sir Anthony Okure, Mr Agbo Patrick and Mrs Esther Tunwase, lamented the rate at which plazas were thriving in the estate. She said the commercialisation of the estate was causing

chaos as many of the plazas were built without parking spaces for vehicles, leading to traffic deterioration on Road 69, which is the only road that connects about 30 other estates in Gwarimpa. Agomoh said despite drawing the attention of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal

Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to the infraction, where all available green spaces in the area were being converted into shopping complex and nightclubs, the authorities had failed to assuage their fears. She also warned that Road 69 could be cut off as a result of the deterioration of the gully that has eroded and narrowed the road. She said the residents

had for over six years drawn the attention of the authorities to the state of the road without any assistance. “When that happens it is going to be a major catastrophe for us. If you are coming in from our estate right from the 3rd Avenue and coming home from work, from Chambian to this estate, you won’t do it in less than an hour and half,

a journey that under normal circumstances should be like three to five minutes. You can be stuck in traffic for more than one and half hour for no other reason than the springing up of plazas, not just shops –two, three, four floors of plazas and they have no parking lot. Their customers are parking right on the road, making the road inaccessible,” Agomoh said.

Julius Berger Delivers Highest Dividend in 5 Years to Shareholders Bennett Oghifo Chairman of the Board of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, CON has said that though the company had challenges in the 2021 financial year, it excelled and overcame the challenges by dint of hard work and unflinching commitment to success on the part of the management and staff of the company.

He spoke just as the Managing Director, Engr Dr. Lars Richter disclosed that the company stood strong in the year under review even as the company’s shareholders approved a N2.50k per share dividend. Speaking at the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the company Saturday in Abuja, the Chairman presented the Consolidated Financial State-

ments of the year under review saying that within the period, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc performed positively despite the numerous macro-economic hiccups which affected businesses during the year. He added that the company achieved exceptional financial performance, meeting targets for both revenue and cash flow. “One for those challenges, of course is COVID-19, which remains

ever present in our personal and professional lives – with prolonged consequences. Unfortunately, we are unable to put this virus behind us just yet,” the Chairman said. However, the Chairman did not mince words in declaring that, “while 2021 was certainly a challenging year, more positively, it was also a dynamic and industrious year,” adding that, “within our

core construction business, we made meaningful progress across our portfolio of private and public projects”. He listed the projects to include the International Worship Centre, Uyo, the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja, the Bodo-Bonny Road as well as infrastructure projects in Lagos state and in Rivers state, where Julius Berger have supported the State

Governments to achieve a remarkable infrastructure transformation within the year.” Specifically, Dr Richter also listed some successfully commissioned major projects to include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation office, several flyovers and civil infrastructural works in Port Harcourt; and the Rehabilitated Control Towers at Tincan Island and the Lagos Port Complex.

Sanwo-Olu Appoints Aromolaran Executive Director at LSDPC Governor Babajide SanwoOlu has appointed another Executive Director for the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC. The newly appointed Executive Director, Adeniyi Nehemiah Aromolaran officially assumed duty on Monday, June 1st, 2022. Adeniyi Nehemiah Aromolaran is a Fellow and an Elected Council Member, CIPM, a Certified IFC/LPI Sustainable

and Performance Development Facilitator/Trainer, Founder/ Country Team Lead, The Nehemiah Place. He is an unrepentant Advocate and Champion for National/Public Sector Reforms, Private Sector Self Leadership and People Empowerment. Before his assumption to office as Executive Director, Enterprise Services, Adeniyi Aromolaran with over 30 years

post graduate work experience, is a Finance & Banking Graduate of the University of Lagos. He founded Nehemiah Resources Limited, an MSME Consulting Firm, to provide Enterprise Developmental support for “Start-Ups” across Africa. His firm partnered with the African Project Development Fund, an IFC Agency to organize and hold the first MSME Seminar event

in history, “Transforming your Business” – a vision, skill and potential enhancing seminar. This initiative and several other involvements in Enterprise Development/Promotion was to later earn him the “Africa Pioneer Enterprise Coach Award”. Between 1996 and 2013, Aromolaran developed his professional expertise in the Financial Sector, Management

Consulting, Human Resources, Retail Marketing, Hospitality and Real Estate Development/ Investment, working with various reputable organisations. He is the Convener/Co Founder, “Rethinking Nigeria Business Leadership Network”; Convener/Founder, Nehemiah Aromolaran Foundation; Sponsors of the “Lend A Hand” Social-Enterprise Initiative; Past Global President,

Government College Lagos Old Boys Association; Honorary Council Member, Nigeria-Britain Association; A “Expert-in-Residence” at the EDC, LBS, Pan African University; Member, Ikoyi Club 1938; Member, International Association of Facilitators; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Training & Development; Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered).

‘Always Check Land Documents Before Buying’ In this interview, Kolade Adepoju, the MD/CEO of Riel Homes, a real estate company in Lagos Island, talks about the market and its challenges and setbacks in terms of investment in property in Lagos and offers advice, including check of land documentation, to prospective investors

Adepoju

Tell us about yourself, and why you are so passionate in real estate? My name is Kolade Adepoju. I’m the MD of Riel Homes. My passion for real estate, for me, is something I believe all of us should have passion for. You know when you see how bad the housing

deficit is, how hard it is for an average Nigerian to own a house, even to rent is a problem, how much more to own. And for us, for me it’s my own quota to empower the people, it’s my own quota to help a citizen of Nigeria in that regard. For example, we have our

Riel Court Estate, we have young people buying into it, we encourage them. I even give them more discounts to encourage them. We make attractive whatever incentive we are giving. Give us your background in real estate

and your key portfolio? I’ve been into real estate for some years now but officially Riel Homes is barely a year. Majorly for now we are basically into residential. We have a location in Ilara Epe, that’s the Riel Court. We have in Ishapati, that’s the Acolade. We have in

Awoyaya. We are both into commercial and residential. But we started with residential. We are working on a future project on 1000 acres of land, a city on its own that would have residential, commercial and industrial in it somewhere in the southwest.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J U N E

S & P INDEX

2 7 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Despite Owning 60% of Global Solar Resources, Nigeria, Others’ Clean Energy Penetration Stunted at 1%

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Although it has about 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources, Nigeria and other African countries have a paltry 1 per cent deployment of clean energy sources, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said. The outlook for the country and several African countries are not enviable, is stressed, with over 640 million persons

on the continent without access to energy, that is, just about 40 per cent, the lowest in the world. According to the respected energy data-driven organisation, in its Africa Energy Outlook 2022 report, although Nigeria and other African countries remain a minor contributor to global emissions, yet it needs to do far more to adapt to climate risks than the rest of the world. But the growing demand by

the West that African countries should embrace renewables however contradicts current moves by a key European country, Germany, which is calling on rich nations under the G-7 to put a hold on the planned halt in the financing of overseas fossil fuel projects by the end of the year. Nigeria has always insisted that although it is committed to the netzero plan by 2060, it

cannot abandon the explorations of fossil fuels overnight, maintaining that gas, which to some extent is a cleaner hydrocarbon will be used as transition fuel. By 2050, the report stated that Africa will still account for no more than 4 per cent of cumulative global energy related CO2 emissions, regardless of the scenario, adding that funding for climate adaptation could

reach $30-50 billion per year by 2030, a huge increase on the $7.8 billion in 2019. For Africa to pursue the energy pathway set out, it explained that there needs to be a change in the way energy projects are financed as between 2015-19, 70 per cent of energy investment on the continent went to oil and gas projects, primarily predicated on foreign off take.

According to the EIA, priority needs to be given to making more effective use of public capital, from international and domestic sources, in order to better leverage private capital. “While Africa accounts for almost one fifth of the world’s population, it attracts less than 5 per cent of global energy investment. This is spread unevenly Continued on page 26

WFP: Increasing Cost of Agric Imports Could Exacerbate Food Insecurity in W’Africa Gilbert Ekugbe The United Nations’ World Food Programe (WFP) has lamented the increasing cost of imported agricultural inputs for West African countries. According to WFP, the situation could exacerbate food insecurity in a region already coping with the highest number of food insecure people during the

post-harvest season since the Cadre Harmonisé food security assessments were introduced in 2014. This was the crux of the two-day forum held in Dakar, capital of Senegal. At the meeting, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in partnership with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), WFP and

the Senegalese Ministry of Economy, Plan and Cooperation, launched the annual forum of intergovernmental organisations from West Africa, to examine and address the impact of emerging risks and challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. The socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ripple effect of the

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

conflict in Ukraine have led to increased costs of food, fuel, and agricultural inputs - particularly fertilizer - in the region according to the joint studies conducted by ECOWAS, UNECA, FAO and WFP. These studies revealed that West African countries are highly dependent on food imports as the region spent $4.5 billion in 2019 on cereal

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

imports. Dependence on wheat imports is particularly acute in Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Benin, where just over half of the wheat consumed came from Russia. This situation also posed a threat to the region due to the unprecedented rise in food prices witnessed in February-March 2022, with the FAO Food Price Index reaching its highest level on

record in March 2022. Through this forum, the United Nations would reinforce its partnership with ECOWAS and intergovernmental organisations to ensure that all parties would work together in a coordinated manner that is aligned with both the strategic priorities of sub-regional organisation as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Samsung Sets New Record as Large Crude Oil Carrier Berths in Lagos

A Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Peter Uzoho Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) Limited has yet again reaffirmed its commitment to continue its operation in Nigeria by setting another record in offshore technology through business diversifications, particularly in crude oil carrier to Floating Storage Unit (FSU) conversion, repair, and upgrade of ultra-large and offshore vessels. Since 2021, SHIN has been providing a suitable and alternative location that provides various maritime services such as cargo, container logistics, ship repair & conversion, FPSO upgrades and so on. Just last week, a 330 metre long Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), an international vessel used for exports of crude oil has berthed at the SHI-MCI yard in Lagos for the first time. Top officials of SHIN at the fabrication and integration yard told the journalists that the Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria berthed the VLCC at its quay wall at the yard to carry out the vessel repair and upgrade works. VLCC, also called ‘Super Tanker’ for its mammoth weight-carrying capacity, can transport massive quantities of

crude oil across the oceans to the international market. The berthing and repair work that is being carried out on VLCC at SHI-MCI yard is significant in the sense that it marks the first time such work is carried out in Lagos Port. With this development, prospective clients in other parts of Africa and Europe that carry out services such as ship repairs, maintenance and upgrades in Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, Dubai, and Singapore will henceforth find Nigeria as a more attractive location and cost-effective country for such works. According to the Managing Director of SHIN, Mr. Jongseok Kim, Nigeria holds strong geographical advantage that will enable the country to become the hub for various maritime services such as ship repair & conversion, and upgrades. Indeed, owing to its strategic location by the coastline, Nigeria is the pivot of West Africa’s shipping activities with over 3,000 merchant vessels every year in the range of 19,000 to 200,000 GT flocking in and out of the country for various marine activities. Furthermore,

Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

The Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN) has set a N1 trillion yearly turnover target for the new management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). The mortgage bankers insisted that the target, which could be achieved by taking advantage of the opportunities in the capital market will aid in growing the financial capacity of the sector. In addition, the group stated that it would help the bank and the entire housing sector

realise set goals more easily and reduce the liquidity issues in the sector. Speaking during a visit to the new Managing-Director of the FMBN, Mr. Madu Hamman, and his team in Abuja, President of MBAN, Mr. Ebilate Mac-Yoroki, called for a review of the laws guiding operations of the mortgage banking sector in Nigeria. He also expressed the need for the FMBN to automate the operations of the bank and pleaded that primary mortgage banks are allowed fair opportunities to operate.

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

across the continent. “Ten countries accounted for 90 per cent of private investment in energy and electricity infrastructure on the continent over the last 10 years,” it said. Although historically, fossil fuel supply has accounted for the majority of energy investment in Africa, driven by oil

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

production, however, since 2016, it said, capital spending on fuel supply has fallen by more than a fifth with a shift to less risky projects elsewhere. “Clean energy investment has failed to make up the difference, with around 60 per cent of total spending still going to fossil fuel supply over the past five years.

According to Mac-Yoroki, when FMBN decides to take advantage of the opportunities he said abound in the mortgage sector in the capital market, there would be enough funding to meet the several commitments it has on ground, including payment of dividends. He requested that the bank should give some latitude to other primary banking institutions operating along with it in the sector, including clearing the ambiguities surrounding the ‘single obligor’ policy, allowing them take advantage of the rent-to-own package, as

N21,000 – 24,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000 N19500- N25000

“The clean energy transition in Africa requires not just a shift in investment flows away from fossil fuels, but also a near doubling of total capital over 2026-30 compared with 2016-20,” the IEA projected. However, despite foreign pressure to jettison fossil fuels, Minister of State, Petroleum

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

25CL ABUJA

Africa. Being the first project launched after the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, Egina FPSO advanced the Nigerian Content to record levels. With the successful completion of the repair works on the VLCC, SHIN has set a new record in its efforts to make Nigeria the hub of offshore technology in Africa, particularly the integration and fabrication of FPSO vessels, ship repairs and FPSO conversion. SHIN’s efforts in this direction have led to the development of local capacity and capability, creation of employment opportunities and boosting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. According to the top officials at SHIN, the hosting and servicing the VLCC was the fourth major project handled by the SHI-MCI yard, after the sail-way of the Egina FPSO to the deep offshore oilfield in August 2018. The berthing of an international vessel christened ‘PACIFIC RUBY’ was the second project after Egina. The dimension of the vessel

is 249.869 metres length, 43.8 metres breadth, 21.2 metres depth, and 13.6 metres designed draught. The project before VLCC included carrying out repair works on Floating Storage Unit (FSU) vessel for the local client. SHIN has since diversified into container Terminal and logistics operations for international and local clients such as COSCO. The empty containers terminal business is also an alternative revenue earner during ‘low season’ of offshore project while creating more job opportunities for Nigerians. The container Terminal includes the berthing of barges at the SHI-MCI FZE Quay wall for the offloading of empty containers; storage of empty containers at SHI-MCI FZE Laydown area; and the berthing of feeder vessel at the quay to backload the empty containers unto the vessels for shipping. Also due to its strategic location and capacities, the yard is expected to bring in other valuable projects such as mooring and skid installation, ship upgrades, and fabrication of various modular works.

well as giving preference to private mortgage banks to hold mortgage funds that commercial banks currently hold. “I’m a product of the capital market. I want to plead that the FMBN utilises all the opportunities we have in the capital market and we have also given you a target because you don’t just come as big men to work without target. “Government will not give you target, but because we are private sector people, we are saying that from now on, your operational target should be in N1 trillion turnover every year.

“It means that this year since we’re already in June, we can accommodate N500 million turnover. That way we know that you will have a lot of money, you can pay dividend and so on. “We also want to plead that you give optimum opportunities for all PMBs to operate, as many as possible, without compromising standards. If anybody has not committed any crime, maybe he has one or two regulatory issues to address, please try and help them so that we can have enough,” he said.

DESPITE OWNING 60% OF GLOBAL SOLAR RESOURCES, NIGERIA, OTHERS’ CLEAN ENERGY PENETRATION STUNTED AT 1%

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

value-added vessels due to the yard’s state-of-the-art facilities and its robust integration and assembling purpose-build quay wall, stretching over 502 meters long with 12.5 berthing water depth and over 3,000 tons load bearing capacity. The yard also provides optimum proximity to the main shipping channels from and to Nigeria thanks to its strategic location that enables fast and convenient entry point. This makes the facility the choice destination for international vessels. ‘The SHI-MCI yard was built in Lagos by Samsung to make Nigeria the hub of FPSO fabrication and integration in Africa. But the beauty of our yard is that it is highly scalable, which means that it is not only optimized for world-class, ultralarge and high value-added projects, but also is designed to service and maintain vessels of any size.’ Kim explained. Indeed, SHIN broke the record in Nigerian Content development in the oil and gas industry when it used the yard to fabricate and integrate the Egina FPSO locally, the first time such works were carried out in

MBAN Set N1trn Operational Target for New FMBN Management Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)

following the shift in energy transition as well as the UkraineRussia crisis, there is a growing demand for the alteration and modification works on large vessels and FPSO units globally. While Nigeria has its location advantage, such works could not be carried out in Nigeria as there is no adequate ship repair or shipbuilding facility in Nigeria which could accommodate ships in the range of 19k to 200K GT. Through Samsung’s business diversification at its yard however, such works can now be carried out in Nigeria. Strategically located in Tarkwa Bay Free Trade Zone, the SHI-MCI yard in Lagos is the only fabrication and integration facility in Africa built on a land mass spanning 121,000m2. The yard represents over 300 million dollars investment by SHIN for the local fabrication and integration of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units and other offshore vessels in Nigeria. The yard has the capacity to accommodate and carry out the fabrication, maintenance, refurbishment, and modification works on ultra-large, and high

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, has said that he country will not jettison her God-given resources. Insisting that Nigeria’s goal should be energy sufficiency to put an end to the ravaging energy poverty in the country, he stated that it would be unfair to expect

that Nigeria as well as other energy-deficient countries will be stampeded into the mix. “Nigeria should harness all the available energy resources to assure, not only availability and accessibility but also affordability and sustainability, to meet its energy demand,” he said.

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Vandalism of Power Assets Worsens Nationwide Electricity Supply Although Nigeria’s power sector has never really operated optimally, the recent decline experienced by electricity consumers nationwide may have been made worse by the incessant destructions of the country’s transmission lines by vandals, writes Emmanuel Addeh

hile the motives for attacking the country’s power assets still remain in the realm of conjecture, the sporadic disruption of electricity supply to parts of the country by an already struggling sector, calls for concern from all and sundry. Before now, Nigerians had expressed high hopes that the national grid could at least deliver up to 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2023 and ameliorate the decades of inadequate and unreliable power supply. But as it is, that target is now under serious threat as the national power assets have become objects of attack in various parts of Nigeria. This year alone, aside gas lines supplying the fuel to thermal-powered facilities, there have been direct strikes on assets run by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for which innocent consumers have suffered the consequences.

A SNAPSHOT OF ONSLAUGHTS

From the South-south to the South-west, from the South-east to parts of the north, the story of destruction of TCN power lines have largely been the same. One of the most far-reaching in a negative sense was the incident of April 8, 2022 which happened around 6.30pm, literally plunging the national power grid to a very low level, thereby causing a system collapse. Days later, officials of the TCN noted that they found that a transmission Tower number 104 at Oku Iboku in Akwa Ibom State, along the 330 kilovolts (kV) Ikot Ekpene to Odukpani transmission line had been vandalised and had indeed fallen from the impact. It took a while for the reconstruction works on the vandalised transmission to be completed, while work to fortify other towers minimally vandalised along the same line route, was carried out to enable the restringing and tensioning of the 330kV DC transmission line, before it was energised. At the time, the collapsed tower was not the only one vandalised and it involved bringing down the 330kV DC line on some suspension towers, that were minimally vandalised, up to the nearest tension towers on both sides of the collapsed tower and fortifying the suspension towers before restringing the lines to ensure quality work. The authorities had appealed to the public to help TCN in the fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure, saying that such acts were detrimental to Nigerians and the expansion of power infrastructure in the country. But that was not the first in the space of three months that such attacks would be taking place. In March 2022, it was discovered that the 330kV Sapele to Benin transmission line tripped off after a series of attacks affected some towers under it. An official of TCN, which manages the power grid, confirmed that a tower on the 132kV Enugu to Benue transmission line was hacked and nearly fell. In the process, a suspected vandal was electrocuted before it was fixed by the authorities after a while. In addition, just near Osogbo in Osun state,

vandals brought welding machines, hacked and fell two towers on the brand new 330kV Osogbo to Akure power transmission line, causing a delay in the project execution. Not done, in Ogun state, three transmission towers collapsed recently on the 132kV Papalanto/Ojere double-circuit transmission line after they were vandalised, causing power outage around Abeokuta and its environs. The constraint was later fixed while restoring bulk power to the affected area. Within this short period, it was learnt that at least five vandalism incidents had been recorded with the one occurring in Oku Iboku (Akwa Ibom state), affecting Akwa Ibom and Cross River at once while causing the Odukpani NIPP Generation Company (GenCo) with over 400MW capacity to shut down since April. After the Oku Iboku vandalism incident, the federal government in a statement directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to probe the situation. Not long after, the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr Sanusi Garba, confirmed the cause of the incident as massive vandalism of the power assets. “The immediate cause of the national blackout (system collapse) was an act of vandalism on a transmission tower on the Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene 330kV double circuit transmission line thus resulting in a sudden loss of about 400MW of generation (Calabar NIPP). This consequently led to a cascade of plants’ shut down across the country,” he said. While explaining the nature of the vandalism, the Port Harcourt Regional Transmission Manager at TCN, Daniel Udofia, said Tower 104 was vandalised at Oku Iboku in Akwa Ibom state on the 330kV Odukpani (Cross River) to Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom) transmission line, saying the attack was massive. Shortly after the Oku Iboku vandalism, the Managing Director of TCN, Dr. Sule Abdulaziz and some management officials of the publicly-owned company visited the site of the vandalism to assess the extent of the damage. Speaking at the site, he said: “This singular act threw the entire nation into darkness plus the humongous loss in terms of economic resources. Despite this, we have remained resolute in our effort to find ways of ensuring power supply to the good people of Akwa Ibom and the nation at large. “To effectively achieve this, every citizen of Nigeria must in one way or another contribute to this fight against the vandalism of power infrastructures,” noted Abdulaziz. However, the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider at TCN, Victor Adewumi, made more revelation of the nationwide power assets’ sabotage. “It is happening almost everywhere in the country now; even in Delta state, we had to quickly mobilise to fix 10 towers in a row when we saw an act of vandalism. This is outright sabotage and it doesn’t happen in

other climes,” he declared. Worried by the development, Adewumi noted that the phenomenon throughout the country was setting back Nigeria from the path of electricity expansion. “We appeal to the youths and to Nigerians to own these assets because it belongs to us. Each time we pull the government back and we turn around to blame the same government; it is so unfair to throw the whole nation into blackout,”he stated. Adewumi who said vandalism causes retrogression in power infrastructure development added that the attack on power assets was not only callous but a setback for power consumers in the country. “There is no way this country can move forward if each time we take a step forward and we take three steps backward. Everybody needs power and every generation plants service every part of Nigeria. You can see how callous people can be to deliberately remove tower members to bring this thing down,” he added. Adewunmi’s submission about how vandalism of power infrastructure causes retrogression in the national electricity grid development may not be far from the truth as consumers are usually in a quagmire during such episodes. As TCN re-energised the Ikot Ekpene to Odukpani transmission line in Akwa Ibom after reconstructing the vandalised tower after four weeks, Adewumi who assessed the completed work, appealed to Nigerians to work to safeguard power assets in their communities.

400MW LOST IN ONE INCIDENT

He stated that the restoration of the power line was a priority for the government, noting that power evacuation of at least 400MW from the Odukpani power plant near Calabar would create relief for the areas that experienced outage after the line was vandalised. “As we speak, Odukpani NIPP has the capacity to bring over 400MW to the grid but they were shut out because there was no other way to connect to the national grid due to the vandalism,” he noted. He appealed to the public, especially residents of Akwa Ibom and parts of Cross River state that the company was fast tracking the process and called for patience. “The tower is back and we have done everything to restore and sustain it on the national grid. We appeal to people to also take ownership of power infrastructure that passes through their communities,” he noted.

NOT ALL GLOOM AND DOOM

While efforts are on to tackle incessant destruction of assets, the federal government has said that it has a deal to ramp up supply. Nigeria currently operates a grid that has an average of 5,000MW power delivery capacity. To accelerate this and resolve the

myriads of complaints about poor power supply, the Nigerian government entered a strategic deal with Germany to have its Siemens undertake end-to-end energy reform for Nigeria under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI). That programme, it said is ongoing with procurement of transmission and distribution equipment at an advanced stage and would kick in practically this September towards moving the grid from 5,000MW to 7,000MW. By next year, it assured that it would take the grid to 10,000MW and by 2025, the programme would have lifted Nigeria’s grid to 25,000MW with its implementation being driven by the FGN Power Company.

SECURING FACILITIES

To tackle the situation, some experts have insisted that the government, power operators, community residents and security agents should deepen synergy to intercept vandals before they execute their acts. For instance, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Power And Petroleum Development, John Etim, said the government would work with TCN on mass sensitisation of the public while making laws at the House of Assembly for stricter penalties against vandals. He also said the state had intensified security surveillance to curb vandals’ activities. A power consultant, Mr Bulus Yaro, stated that he was aware that some power firms occasionally engage the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) and vigilante groups to patrol lines. “These efforts are not enough, from time to time, community members including youths should be involved in the process. “Then security agents should be made to arrest and prosecute dealers in metal scraps especially if they are found to be copper and aluminium conductors. That is when we will start being serious to tackle this sabotage, ”he said. Speaking on a panel discussion during the week, the Executive Director, Independent System Operator, Maman Lawal, argued that although there had been some reduction in cases of grid collapses, it was unfortunate that the phenomenon was increasing this year. Stressing that some “critical parameters are really beyond the control of the core industrial players,” he argued that there has to be an integrated approach to all the challenges. “Like I mentioned, it is anomalous, we are in a state of flux,” he said. The General Manager, National Control Centre, Oshogbo, Balarabe Abdullahi, who spoke separately, said that the industry was dealing with a lot of constraints, including in the major within the system. “And before we have the stability of the grid, definitely the supply and demand have to have to be at an equilibrium. So there are so many factors and those factors include gas constraints, water management,” he said. He called for the collective protection of the gas supply facilities so that access by vandals will be difficult, while constant availability of the product will reduce incessant system collapses.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

AfCFTA as Africa’s Industrialisation Accelerator The African Import and Export Bank in its recent report argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area would be the game changer in driving Africa’s industrialization, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

he African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) has affirmed that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement would be the continent’s industrial accelerator. It stated unequivocally that, “AfCFTA will accelerate the growth of labour-intensive manufacturing industries.” The Afreximbank’s affirmation was contained in a report it published in this month, which was titled “Africa’s 2022 Growth Prospects: Poise under Post-Pandemic and Heightening Geopolitical Pressures.” It said in the report that the AfCFTA agreement would usher in a period of renaissance in African manufacturing sector and become a critical driver of African economic growth in the near-term. The report identified East and West Africa as the regions manufacturing would play a critical role in sustaining economic growth. “The sustained injection of patient capital and rise of East Africa’s automotive industry is helping to expand opportunities for labour-intensive employment under a proven manufacturing-led growth model and will expand the fiscal space to gradually strengthen the foundation of macroeconomic stability,” the report said. Turning to West African sub-region, the report said that despite the protracted negative effects of conflict and insecurity, especially in the Sahel region, members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are also expected to enjoy robust growth in 2022. “The sub-region will be supported by the usual assortment of strong performers (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Senegal), and by Nigeria, where the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose sharply to 57.3 in February 2022, the largest expansion since November 2019. The telecommunications and financial services sectors, as well as extensive investment in strategic industries, are enhancing growth resilience in Nigeria. The oil sector, too, will benefit from a gradual easing of OPEC production cuts and higher prices, which have received another boost from the Ukraine crisis. The latter are expected to remain above the country’s fiscal breakeven price of $62 per barrel, “it stated.

LDR AND SMES

The report added that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s loan to deposit ratio (LDR) policy would spell a boon for micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially those in manufacturing. The report, which was authored by the Chief Economist and Director of Research at Afreximbank, Dr. Hippolyte Fofack, stated that trade integration reform would reinforce macroeconomic stability across Africa as the agreement on the Rules of Origin, which would become effective later this year would accelerate the diversification of sources of growth and trade. A section of the report, which was sub-titled, “The AfCFTA as the Industrialisation Accelerator,” projected that AfCFTA would increase the value of African automotive market from $30.44 billion

in 2021 to $40.06 billion in 2027. The report also highlighted that AfCFTA would awaken the revival of industrialisation of African economies and also deepen and create an increasingly competitive regional value chains; it would also facilitate the emergence of more resilient supply chain and add more value chains through backward activities. The report emphasised the role of the manufacturing sector in this projected economic growth. It said: “Moreover, AfCFTA will bolster sustained welfare improvement, with the rise of a strong manufacturing base which has been a catalyst of increasing opportunities for labour-intensive employment acting as an elevator out of poverty. “Africa’s industrial and manufacturing output, which went through a long period of sustained decline towards the end of the last century, giving rise to the premature deindustrialisation argument reversed course a decade ago and has been increasing steadily since. “Expressed as a share of GDP, manufacturing exceeds 12 per cent according to most recent estimates, up from less than 10 per cent a decade ago, having declined from 17 per cent when Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) was introduced in the early 1980s. The revival in manufacturing’s fortunes has been strong, especially after adjusting for income and population. Since 2000, manufacturing output has risen 91 per cent in real terms.”

MANUFACTURING SHARE OF EXPORTS

The report said that manufacturing share of the continent’s exports has expanded as well, from 35.5 per cent in 2008 to 54.2 per cent a decade later, with exports becoming increasingly more integrated into global value chains It noted that the sectoral drivers of manufacturing in the continent have also witnessed increasing diversification, extending beyond traditional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of products with low degrees of automation such as leather, footwear, and garments to include technology and fintech industries, which are driving digitalisation and more sophisticated industries with greater potential for structural change. The bank stated that the growth in technology and fintech industries have become increasingly important and accounting for around half of Africa’s growth in output per worker in the first decade of this century. In addition to the emergence of strategic industries such as refineries and cement, the automotive sector has become a magnet for patient capital. “After Volkswagen established a car manufacturing centre in Rwanda, Peugeot and Opel followed suit by opening plants in Namibia to assemble up to 5,000 vehicles per year. “Ghana, too, is now home to assembly

plants from Nissan and Volkswagen. Meanwhile, Morocco has been extremely successful in developing its car industry, with around 80 per cent of its exports oriented towards Europe and the rest to domestic and regional markets,” the report said.

BOOSTING FDI INFLOWS

In addition to boosting FDI inflows, empirical evidence has shown that joining a free trade area could raise them by around a quarter. Relatedly, through improving economies of scale, the free trade area will afford companies more opportunities to spread the risks of investing in smaller markets. The report stated that in some countries, output would continue to expand above regional and world averages, being “supported by the increasing diversification of sources of growth that is expanding manufacturing output and trade.” It referred to the World Bank’s estimation that the AfCFTA’s reform has the potential to increase Africa’s exports by $560 billion mostly in manufacturing, and boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035. In addition to transforming the region’s productivity landscape, the AfCFTA promised to deepen and create new and increasingly competitive regional value chains, as well as to facilitate the emergence of more resilient supply chains. It would also add more value to the continent’s commodities to integrate global value chains through backward activities, especially in the automotive industry that would play a key role in structural transformation. For instance, in 2019, intra-continental automotive exports accounted for around 16 per cent of Africa’s automotive exports to the world. And following current trends, a full implementation of the AfCFTA underpinned by a strict implementation of the rules of origin would greatly increase these numbers. “Estimates have shown that the value of the African automotive market would reach $42.06 billion in 2027, up from $30.44 billion in 2021, propelled by large economies in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Ethiopia is slated to achieve the most impressive growth, with demand increasing from 30,380 units in 2020 to 112,814 in 2035,” the report said. The Afreximbank’s report also observed that African governments are beginning to wake up to the responsibilities to aid economic growth. It said: “To support the AfCFTA’s implementation and capitalise on its growth potential, governments are developing critical economic infrastructure. This includes the expansion of special economic zones (SEZs), which have been instrumental in other parts of the world, most notably Asia, in developing regional value chains and boosting countries’

participation in global value chains.”

UNCTAD SEZ PROGRAMMES

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the numbers of African countries with SEZ programmes have increased from just four in 1990 to 47 in 2020, with most nations hosting several SEZs. A growing number of countries are executing plans to improve domestic production capabilities in manufacturing. In Zambia, the national strategy for the AfCFTA’s implementation recognised the critical importance of MSMEs as drivers of growth and export diversification and is facilitating their integration into regional and global value chains. At the regional level, countries are coordinating their efforts for greater policy alignment. For instance, regional economic communities are working towards more united strategies, starting with industrial policy and trade partnerships with OEMs, and developing mutually beneficial bilateral and multilateral country agreements. The report stated that two other factors would further accelerate Africa’s manufacturing renaissance under the AfCFTA: first, the reordering of global supply chains, which has been accelerated by both the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical realignments, which could lead to the emergence of competing blocs with distinct technological standards and cross-border payment systems. The report identified the second factor as the changing nature of China-Africa engagement. It said that despite the cost advantages of the just-intime global supply chain model that is characterised by lean inventories and outsourcing to low-cost locations, the pandemic has highlighted its inherent risks and encouraged a shift towards the regionalisation and ‘friend-shoring’ of supply chains. “Combined with the rules of origin that prioritise ‘Made in Africa’ goods, the reordering of supply chains offers another opportunity to accelerate domestic manufacturing in support of intra-African trade. “The changing nature of engagement, namely emphasising trade and investment promotion, announced during the eighth Forum on ChinaAfrica Co-operation held last year in Senegal will bolster Africa’s manufacturing boom. The Chinese leadership has decided to raise its annual imports from Africa to more than $300 billion, up from $105 billion in 2021 over the next three years and shift compositions to increase the manufacturing content of those imports. “This includes the injection of $10billion in major industrialisation and employment promotion projects in Africa, direct support for the growth of African MSMEs and the establishment of a cross-border renminbi centre. “Beyond reducing the excessive dependency on commodities to rebalance China-Africa trade, such measures will accelerate the process of technology transfer and raise productivity. Ultimately, this will enhance Africa’s integration into the global economy, in no small part because global trade growth has historically been higher in more technology-intensive sectors,” the report said.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Aina: SRC Strategy for Odua Group Achievable Before 2025 The outgoing Chairman, Odua Investment Company Limited, Dr. Segun Aina in this interview shared some of his achievements as he exchanged baton to usher in a new administration to govern the Odua Group. According to him, its Sweat, Revive and Create 2025 strategy aimed at repositioning the entire group is right on course. Gilbert Ekwugbe presents the excerpts What were your expectations on assumption of ofﬁce as Chairman, Odua Investment Company Limited and will you say these expectations have been met? hank you very much for this opportunity and the question you have asked. Let me start from where I was informed that I was nominated to be the Chairman of the Odua Investment Limited and prior to that I have always known about Odua, and I was told that the reason why they are bringing me and my colleagues on board was to revive the company, transform it and make it a company to reckoned with and competing with other companies that are in the same line of business. So, with that said, I knew the first thing that we needed to do to transform the company from the position it was at that time to a company that we will all be proud of. I knew it was going to be really hard and I had to devote a lot of time and attention to leading the board in achieving the kind of mandate that we were given when we were appointed. The former board was dissolved based on certain issues and for about a month, the company did not have a board until we came in, so there was nobody to hand over to us. Right there, I knew it was going to be hard work, but I knew that it is human beings that bring about changes, especially when you are determined and when you believe that you are working with a group of people who share a common vision. The State Governors have done well by making sure that they bring people with common purpose, because it would have not been easy and my expectation was that I knew it would be hard work but looking at the profile of the people coming together, I had a sense of relief that we will deliver. The new Chairman is somebody I have known for so many years both professionally and socially, so it was easy for all of us to work as a family even though we are representing different shareholders, even though we have different ideas, but we all have a common purpose, which is the growth and development of this company and because we see it as an opportunity and a great privilege to be invited to serve on the board and for me to serve as the Chairman was a great privilege and we did our best. So in terms of expectation, we knew that it was hard work and also knew that it was possible and with the people we had on the ground in support of the management, we were able to move the company from where we met it about a few years ago, to a level where people are now hearing a lot of good things in Odua. We have laid a very solid foundation and we can now compete with the best of the companies in the various fields that we are working and in terms of expectations like you said, I am happy that we have met our expectations for the three-year period. Where we are now is the next step to move forward and it is a good time for a change in chairmanship so that we can start from where we are and it is a succession and a continuity of people that have worked together. We have designed for ourselves a five-year plan, so this three years that I have served is just part of that five year plan so we have loaded expectations for the remaining years and with Ashiru and his Board, definitely they would get to that level and we believe that by 2025 when we look at the situation of the company, it is going to be a situation that we have set for ourselves in 2020 and by the grace of God, the level would be surpassed.

How were you able to surmount the challenges you encountered and what are some of the achievement recorded by your administration? Odua Investment is a company with significant public interest given the fact that the government of the South West States owns it. When you say government, we are all part of the State, so that means Odua is owned by everybody in the six South-West States, so you would expect significant public interest and what that means is that there will be divergent views, there will be different views about how this company should be and different opinions unlike a private company, but Odua is different because it is owned by everybody within those six States and they have the right to talk about Odua and what they expect. So, whoever is leading the company will be somebody that can know how to balance divergent views and will also have to know how to navigate the various interest groups, because the various interest groups actually exist and you have to take care of them by opening up to them. We must be able carry them along on what we are doing and for the State Governors because they actually have also a clear mind as to where they want to take this company to, which influenced the decision to appoint the board that they appointed, they were there at all times to give us support and they were there all times to share in our pains, they were there when we had issues with the federal government in terms of the oil license that we received. We went to them and said we have

Aina gotten the allocation, but the allocation is not what we wanted that we wanted something bigger. They were able to rally round and got our issues resolved, so that shows their interest, that showed their commitment, readiness and their believe in us and that is why today you see all the governors especially the chairman of the Southern Governors’ forum were all here and this is not how the Odua Annual General Meeting (AGM) is normally done. They decided on their own that they wanted to be here personally to witness the AGM and the change over and that gives us a lot of confidence that they are with us and it gives us lots of confidence that they believe in what we are doing. So in summary, we understand the environment that we operate and we carry everyone along and that is why we have not had any negative publicity apart from all the usual issues, but we have not had any major controversy on the board. We are not politicians to say that this is a political appointment, so I need to make all the money I can make or to say I need to bring people from my constituency to work here in Odua. This is an assignment that we have been given and we are going to do it to the best of our abilities, we are not interfering with management because they have their own role so also the board. There was an office for the Chairman in the Cocoa house, but he, “said why will he go to the Cocoa house when I have his own business,” so we had to close that office to give it to staff for use. That shows that we are not interested in management of that company. Our own is to set the goals and strategies and monitor how they are implementing and support them and that is why we have seen the kind of growth and the kind of progress that we have seen in the past three years, there has been support from the state governments. Do you think that what has happened in Odua supports the concept of government having no business doing business and does your achievement recorded over the years justiﬁes the existence of Odua Group? On the first issue, when you say government has no business doing business, what it means is that government should not be running businesses, it does not mean that the government should not invest in the business. Governments buys shares in companies on the stock exchange, but they are not running it, they believe in that business and this is not different from Odua. That is what has brought the fundamental change unlike before when government was much more involved in the way Odua. That they are involved does not mean that they are there on a day to day basis. Starting from the kind of people on the board and how detached are they from politics and judging from the internal structure that are put in place you can see the difference. That is why the first thing we did when we came on board was to spend a lot of time working with the KPMG global consulting firm to design for us what should be new corporate governance structure, what should be the guideline that

we must follow that successful businesses, not only in Nigeria are following and that was what they brought to us. The board approved it and we took it to shareholders and they approved everything that we took to them. Another notable change we have today is that when somebody is appointed to the board for a term of four years, you cant remove that person except the person is not performing. This is unlike in the past where if the government changed hands and a new governor comes in or a new party, they remove the director representing the state, but that cannot happen anymore because the new shareholder agreement that has been signed by the State governments says once somebody is appointed to the board, he serves his terms and it is the board themselves based on best practice that will evaluate the person in office. So every year we put in place a governance review to look at how we are performing, to check how many meetings we have attended and the contributions we made. So, the success of the company is in our hands and we are held accountable. We do not have any excuse to say we were not given a free hand. That concept is applicable to when government themselves invest in a company or set up a company, appoint the Managing Director, but the government do not ask who is the Managing Director of Odua, it is the board that appoints the Managing Director of Odua going forward under the new leadership and of course we also brought in independent non-executive for the first time in 40 years history of Odua, it has never happened. Those independent directors are people that are not representing any state, that brought about a lot of objectivity to the board and in terms of the way they contribute to the board because all the others are representing directors and shareholders and of course when you are representing a shareholder, you must always look at the interest of the shareholders, but when you have independent directors who are not representing anyone and not accountable to anyone, but themselves you have an effective board. The independent directors were appointed through head haunting by KPMG and they brought a lot of them to us. So these are all the structures that we put together that made the company run as a business and not as an appendage of government and to react to your second question, I will say if you look at where we are as an institution, I will say that the performance we have seen today is not where Odua should be. We should be far ahead of where we are today, but this should not take away the contributions of those who have served on the board in the past. For the fact that Odua is still existing is something we should be happy and proud about. There are other similar organisations in the country, I do not know if they are existing, but I have not been hearing of them, so Odua is still existing today and it shows the resilience and contribution of people in the past. We are not happy with just existing; we want to be the best in all the areas that we operate. We want to make Odua, the engine room for economic development for the South West region and by extension, Nigeria and that is the vision we have and the programmes that we have for the past two years to move it forward and to run like a commercial entity that it is. I believe that despite a lot of years that have gone, if this trajectory can continue the next five to 10 years we will all be happy and be proud of the company that we have all been part of. To answer your question, we are not happy and Odua should not be where it is today. We have been able to prove in the last few years that this company has a potential with all the array of resources we have, we have the potential to be able to do more. We see the future as that of growth and development particularly in the South West region. Odua obviously has diverse interests in various sectors of the economy and out of all these interests, which one would you say is its weakest link? What exactly are you doing to ﬁx this? Yes, that is a good question. We are into various sectors. We are into real estates, hospitality, printing, insurance, we also have some interest in Wema Bank. Some of our companies have not been performing at a level we want, some are doing extremely well while some are not doing well and I am happy to report that Wema bank for instance in the last two years, have had tremendous results in whatever they are

doing. We are not happy with what we met on ground and yes if you look at our portfolio today, our hotels are not doing as well as they should, but I will say it is a major assignment for us because we have enormous resources, we have enormous assets and we have the good will. We are turning it around, but we are not seeing it as the weak link, but we see potentials in there. We are not looking at it as a half empty glass, but a half full glass and when things are down, anything you put into it, it shows progress and development. For us at the board, we believe that all our entities have not done as well as they should have done. The associate companies where we do not have little amounts like Nigerite where we have 50 per cent and Lafarge we have 43 per cent are doing extremely well in terms of the results they are given us and we are not running it and that is why some of the policies that we have taken and approved by the governors under the new chairman will make sure that we progress, to make sure that we do not own 100 per cent in every business, because we believe that we should be an investment company. Invest, make money and if you like sell the investment and buy another one so that we keep making the money not to have 100 per cent and we are the ones running it, because we are not experts in running different businesses. We cannot be jack of all trade and masters of none, so we are saying that Odia should deliberately be looking for investors to buy shares and even if they are they are buying 70 per cent, because when you have 10 per cent of a company that is doing very well is better than having a 100 per cent that is not doing very well and that is the next policy thrust under the new Board lead by Otunba Ashiru. Talking about hospitality business for instance, we are talking to investors who have global brands to bring to the table so that we can change the face of two of our major hotels to make it the go to place when it comes to accommodation. We have also created new companies to focus on agriculture, innovation and technology while another one is focusing on oil and gas and from there we move to energy such as alternative energy sources. So what we are doing in the Odua Group is to create jobs but it does not mean that we should have 1000 staffs working for Odua, but what it means is that we should have the right number of staff in Odua that can create new entrepreneurs and employ people. This is what we are focusing on. We are partnering with existing businesses, partnering with new businesses. Supporting them so that if you have 100 companies with each employing 50 people that is already 5000 people, Odua cannot employ 5000 people. This is why we are set out to create jobs rather than get employees who are not doing anything; this is why we have a lean structure now. We get top professional who are experts in various fields so that when we are investing, we will have experts who understands that sector and see where that sector is going. We are putting our money in businesses we know would turn out well Tell us about the SRC 2025 vision that was developed under your leadership. Do you think the new board will continue with the vision? I have actually mentioned that earlier on. The first thing is that the strategy programme that we put together was done by everybody in this group including members of the board of some of our companies. They were there when we crafted the strategy in 2020, so we are all part of it and like I have also mentioned, board leadership is a continuum as I am leaving and handling over to someone else as the chairman, we are lucky that the person that is taking over was part of the team that developed the strategy and he believes in it 100 per cent. So definitely, he will be able to drive it in the right direction, which is different from somebody else coming in and this is what happens in many organisations, particularly in government organisations. We have this continuity where a chairman appointed within existing members of the board to the extent that we all work together as one even though we disagree and that is the only sense of diversity in the Board. We listen to everyone and we put things together and by the end of the day whatever decision we come up with is acceptable to everyone. I do not have any doubts at all because SRC is on course. We have made fundamental progresses by indifferent areas. We have been able to accomplish eight things out of ten, just two lagging behind and we also have a catch up plan and by the end of the third year. We must make sure that we catch up on those areas that we are lagging behind, so I have no doubt that by 2025 and we believe in the board too, because some of the goals that we set for ourselves are goals we may even achieve before 2025 with the kind of commitment that I see and the kind of support mechanism that we have around us. We should be able to do a lot more that we have set out to do in 2025.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Operators Keep Mum on Planned 5,000mw Minimum Power Supply from July 1 Peter Uzoho Operators in the Nigerian power industry have remained silent regarding their preparedness towards the commencement of their planned 5,000 megawatts (MW) minimum electricity supply to Nigerians from July 1, 2022 -three days from today (Tuesday). The targeted 5000mw minimum power supply from July 1, 2022, is a resolution of the market participants including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), generation companies (Gencos), distribution companies (Discos), gas suppliers and other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity

Supply Industry (NESI) aimed to incrementally improve the nation’s power supply situation. THISDAY had reported that the participants had agreed to activate contracts to enable seamless gas supply to Gencos and also to ensure that at least 5,000mw was generated, transmitted and distributed to consumers with effect from the said date. Part of the outcomes of the deal would be the elimination of the perennial 2,000mw stranded power posted every now and then by the TCN, THISDAY also gathered. However, inquiries sent to some of the participants by THISDAY, at the weekend,

to know the extent of their readiness for the take-off of the contract and delivery of the targeted volume of power, were declined by all except the Executive Director of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr Joy Ogaji, who only stated: “1st July is 5 days a way, let’s wait and see.” Among those that declined THISDAY’s inquiries were Ikeja Electric (IE), Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), TCN, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Geregu Power, and the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), an umbrella body of Discos.

The Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba, had penultimate week, in Lagos, informed that the operators were working on contracts activation aimed at improving power supply to Nigerians and that the contracts were to take off on July 1 with initial 5000mw to be generated, transmitted and successfully distributed to consumers, with potential for increase to 7000mw. According to him, TCN, Gencos and Discos had committed to sign contracts which will mandate them to ensure that 5,000mw of electricity generated was bought and paid for by Discos and the gas for generation of that capacity also paid for as and when due.

ANOH Gas Project Gets Boost as Shell Takes Delivery of Gas Treatment Skid Peter Uzoho The Assa North Gas development project currently under construction in Imo State, has received a major boost with the delivery of the high pressure fuel gas treatment skid to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) by Nivafer Engineering and Construction Limited, an indigenous Nigerian company. Speaking at the unveiling and load-out of the skid to SDPC at the Nivafer fabrication yard in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, stated that the milestone recorded by the successful completion and delivery of the facility by the Nigerian firm, was deeply rooted in the can-do spirit of Nigerian companies for local development.

Wabote added that the delivery of the equipment has also heightened the expectation of the ANOH project delivery. Wabote said: “This is one of those happiest moments for me and I am excited because this fabrication was done by Nivafer, a Nigerian company with track record. “The successful fabrication of this skid undertaken by Nivafer for Shell, a company that gives optimum priority for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), has also confirmed Nivafer’s expertise and reaffirms the can-do spirit of local companies as well as our seriousness of delivery of local content development. The Project Manager, SPDC, Mr. Afolabi Ojo, said the delivery of the gas treatment skid to his company was a landmark achievement by all parties involved in the ANOH gas project.

Eko Disco Laments N4bn Loss to Vandalism of Equipment in Six Months Peter Uzoho

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe; President, International Women’s Society, Ifeoma Money and Head One Woman, Sterling Bank Plc, Ifunanya Ugboko during commemoration of International Widows Day in Lagos… recently

FG Partners Brazil to Mechanise Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, has announced that Nigeria would partner with the Brazilian government on the supply and distribution of 10,000 tractors to farmers across the country. The move, according to Abubakar, would fast-track the mechanisation of the country’s agricultural sector, improve production and boost economic development. He stated that the partnership with Brazilian counterparts would

ensure the provision of 10,000 units of tractors, 50,000 units of assorted implements and equipment for assembly in Nigeria, 142 turnkey factories for agro processing as well as training of the project beneficiaries for over a period of five years. He added that the development would also enhance food self-sufficiency and create job opportunity for Nigerian youths. The minister gave the indication at the opening ceremony of Africa’s Agricultural machines and equipment technology expo on industrialising Africa’s agriculture through technology and innovation

that was held in Abuja recently. He revealed that the expo was meant to expose African Farmers to cost- effective farm machines and new farming technologies as well as to increase the flow of foreign direct investments in to the country. Other objectives of the expo, according to Abubakar, included the creation of business for farm products, producers and processors. He said that this is in tandem with the agricultural policy of the federal government and a clarion call to bring succor to the drudgery nature of the country’s farm practices in order to encourage

the teeming youths to embrace the agricultural sector. Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Umahkike, who was represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar Garuba, stated that the expo was meant to expose Africa’s farmers to latest innovation in technology across the value chain. Umahkike pointed out that “agriculture in Nigeria contributed about 33 per cent to Gross Domestic Product and engage a large number of our working force in farming.”

Food Security: FG Prioritising Rice, Cassava, Yam Says Agric Minister Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, has stated that rice, cassava and yam are among the top priority crops for the attainment of food security in Nigeria. Abubakar, stated this when he received the delegation led by the Convener of the proposed Nigeria Oil Palm Summit, Mr. Fatai Afolabi in his office in Abuja. He said: “Rice, Cassava and Yam

are top priorities in the agricultural sector. I am urging stakeholders to use the summit to think, plan ahead and develop a policy that would put Nigeria back on track.” The minister tasked stakeholders in the oil palm sub sector on the need to reposition Nigeria to its rightful position of exporting to other nations. Abubakar noted that “in the early 60s Nigeria’s agriculture sector was the major source of revenue, but today the country is struggling to be a big agricultural nation,”

adding that it is not too late for Nigeria to reposition itself. He pointed out that it is worrisome that Malaysia came to Nigeria some years back to get oil palm seedlings and have today became the number one producers of oil palm in the world while Nigeria is ranked the 5th position. He added: “Not just proposing to have a summit but a lot of thinking and planning must be carried out to avoid past mistakes,” and pledged to “work with any organisation to achieve

the economic diversification policy of the present administration.” He commended the stakeholders for their efforts towards repositioning Nigeria oil palm, assuring that the ministry would collaborate and give necessary assistance to ensure oil palm sub sector strives. In his remarks, Afolabi pointed out that the importance of oil palm in Nigeria could not be over emphasised, adding that it was a means of livelihood, fuel and raw materials for industries.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) yesterday lamented the heavy losses it was experiencing due to the activities of vandals, saying it has lost about N4 billion to vandalism of its assets and electrical installations in the last six months. The Managing Director of EKEDC, Dr Tinuade Sanda, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, pointing out that most of the vandalism were recorded in Mushin, Yaba, Surulere, Apapa and other such areas in Lagos.

She said cases of vandalism had contributed in no small measure to the prolonged outages in the company’s network, leading to disruptions of many businesses, maiming and harming of staff and loss of lives, particularly of innocent and unsuspecting members of the public. “Sanda said: “Today, I want to bring to the attention of the public, the spate of vandalism within our network in the last few weeks, especially in areas such as Mushin, Yaba, Surulere, Ijora, Apapa and Lagos Island.

Nigeria to Benefit from F A O ’s $ 1 8 m G l o b a l Environment Facility Fund Gilbert Ekugbe Nigeria and four other countries are expected to benefit from $18 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) led projects. The fund is comprised of three new projects in Nigeria, Venezuela, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda and is expected to improve the management of protected areas, protect biodiversity in lowland forests, and build water security and resilience. “Resilient and productive land and aquatic ecosystems are the foundation of sustainable agri-food systems transformation,” said FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo. “The approval of these three projects strengthens our ability to help countries move on a path of sustainability that leaves no one behind,” Semedo added. The project in Nigeria would improve the conservation, sustainable use, and restoration of a lowland forest landscape to protect globally significant biodiversity and strengthen the sustainable livelihoods of local communities.

The project would also improve the management of the threatened one million hectare landscape encompassing 12 forest reserves and the Okomu National Park. One of the aims is to replicate successes across the full Nigerian lowland forests eco-region. The three projects that were approved on Tuesday at the 62nd Council Meeting of the GEF, held in McLean, Virginia, United States of America, would improve management for conservation and the sustainable use of over 8.3 million hectares of protected areas, bring 10 000 hectares of land under improved management, and restore another 24 000 hectares of forest and natural grasslands. They would also mitigate 4.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and directly support nearly 92 000 people, including indigenous peoples and local communities. The approval of these three projects marked the end of the GEF’s 2018-2022 funding cycle, the most productive four-year period in the FAOGEF partnership to date, with over $600 million in grant financing secured for member countries.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ 'ĂŝŶƐ ϰϴďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĨĞůů ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞǆ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďǇ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂǇ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞǆ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϰϴďƉƐ ƚŽ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

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Ticker

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

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1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

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5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

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10 Access Holdings PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

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Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

21.9%

4.9%

81.4%

18.2%

6.2%

235.00

2.1%

8.0%

19.3%

105.6%

13.9%

14.9x

18.3x

5.7%

71.90

0.0%

6.0%

7.2%

23.3%

12.1%

27.0x

6.1x

3.8%

3.7%

20.85

-0.2%

4.3%

-19.8%

19.8%

3.2%

3.4x

0.7x

14.4%

29.1%

5.4x

0.8x

6.4%

11.9%

36.6%

1.2% 6.7%

21.70

0.2%

4.2%

-13.7%

20.6%

2.6%

2.7x

0.5x

14.3%

275.00

0.0%

3.9%

7.0%

37.7%

16.4%

12.4x

4.5x

7.7%

8.0%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

10.90

3.3%

2.7%

-4.4%

20.1%

1.9%

2.4x

0.4x

3.3%

42.5%

27.00

0.0%

3.1%

12.7%

15.5%

11.1%

7.3x

1.1x

7.4%

13.7%

9.40

-1.1%

2.2%

1.1%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.4%

48.7%

7.40

-0.7%

1.6%

-8.1%

15.6%

1.4%

2.1x

0.3x

13.5%

47.1%

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

33.55

3.2%

1.3%

-6.8%

15.6%

2.1%

7.1x

1.1x

9.0%

14.1%

57.95

-3.4%

1.5%

15.9%

10.5%

3.9%

25.0x

2.5x

2.8%

4.0%

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

1,290.00

0.0%

2.6%

98.5%

7.5%

3.6%

13.2x

1.0x

3.2%

7.6%

10.65

9.8%

1.4%

22.4%

18.4%

1.0%

2.3x

0.4x

6.3%

44.1%

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

WŽƐŝƟǀĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

P/E

45.7%

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ůǇ ƚŽ Ϯϲϲ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ʬϮ͘ϲďŶ͘

31.5% 143.8%

ROA

0.0%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

ƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ϳϬ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϰϭ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞͲ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďǇ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

0.48%

ROE

1,732.40

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

DdEE ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K<KDhK/> ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͕ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ d/ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůǇ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚǇ ǁĂƐ ŵŝǆĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ Ϭ͘ϱй ƚŽ ϱϭ͕ϵϲϮ͘ϴϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝͲ

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

Current Price

6.30

5.0%

1.2%

27.3%

-9.9%

-3.4%

210.00

8.5%

1.3%

47.9%

43.6%

25.5%

11.0x

4.6x

4.0%

9.1%

32.00

-1.5%

0.9%

12.9%

15.9%

4.5%

4.9x

0.7x

6.7%

20.4% 38.7%

1.2x

-8.5%

3.40

0.3%

0.7%

33.3%

13.3%

1.2%

2.6x

0.3x

10.3%

2.00

-2.0%

0.4%

-13.8%

2.9%

0.9%

19.1x

0.6x

12.5%

5.2%

16.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

16.7%

6.6%

8.6x

1.4x

6.3%

11.6%

3.30

0.0%

0.4%

10.4%

10.7%

1.1%

12.90

1.6%

0.4%

30.3%

90.50

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

1.23

-1.6%

0.3%

28.1%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

0.3x

6.1%

3.2x

11.7%

2.2x

0.5%

0.5x

1.6%

7.4%

165.00

0.0%

0.5%

87.9%

7.7x

4.6x

4.0%

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

11.75

0.0%

0.2%

-11.0%

18.5%

5.7%

11.8x

2.1x

3.4%

8.5%

0.64

0.0%

0.2%

-8.6%

21.1%

3.6%

26.0x

0.5x

3.1%

3.8%

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

1.7x

8.0%

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

-11.4%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

7.1%

24.3% 23.9%

12.9%

ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϭ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶͲ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.50

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

50.3%

19.0%

4.2x

2.1x

7.1%

14.80

2.1%

0.1%

2.1%

8.8%

5.4%

28.9x

1.3x

3.4%

3.5%

ĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.90

0.0%

0.2%

20.4%

18.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.8x

9.4%

16.7%

6.1%

0.7%

9.2x

0.6x

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ĂŶĚ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕ Ϭ͘ϵй

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵǇ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E D ;нϰ͘ϰйͿ͕ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďǇ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

KZE Z^d ;нϲ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ DdEE ;нϮ͘ϭйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůǇ͕ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƟĐŬĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͕ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůǇ͕ ĐŽƵƌƚĞƐǇ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďǇ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ d/ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϯ͘ϱйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ϯ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ W ;ͲϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͘ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲǆ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯǆ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

-2.5%

0.1%

-0.8%

3.5%

0.1%

33.5%

3.15

0.0%

337.5%

15.7%

0.9%

11.6x

1.7x

7.9%

8.6%

3.80

4.4%

0.1%

-15.6%

22.3%

12.9%

3.9x

0.8x

5.8%

25.5%

3.1x

0.3x

6.4%

32.5%

T ic k er

10.8%

-21.5%

1.56

2.0%

0.1%

3.3%

10.3%

1.0%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

6.25

0.0%

16.2%

-152.4%

1.8x

-9.5%

1.0x

1.1%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

T R A N SC OR P

31.8

-1.6%

A C C ESSC OR P

29.3

-1.1%

9.4%

OA N D O

27.7

3.5%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

ET I

10.65

9.8%

J OH N H OLT

0.69

9.5%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.58

T ic k er

210.00

8.5%

UB A

20.6

-0.7%

C OR N ER ST

0.66

6.5%

FB NH

13.4

3.3%

IN T B R EW

6.30

5.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

11.9

0.2%

N EM

3.80

4.4%

GT C O

10.2

-0.2%

OKOM UOIL

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞǆ ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϲй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ E ;Ͳ

5.85 5.90

OA N D O

5.90

3.5%

F ID ELIT YB K

5.7

0.3%

FB NH

10.90

3.3%

UB N

4.1

-2.5%

ST A N B IC

33.55

3.2%

VER IT A SKA P

4.0

0.0%

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘Ϭϯǆ ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘Ϭϲǆ ĂƐ ϭϴ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂǇ͕ ǁĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ϳϴ ŇĂƚ͘ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ /Ŷ ƚŽͲ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ϭϲ ƚŽ ůŽƐƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝǆĞĚ͕ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĚĂǇ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ Ă ŵŝůĚůǇ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůǇ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŚƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶƐ͘

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

SEP LA T

415.0

0.0%

-9.3%

A C C ESSC OR P

275.2

-1.1%

0.45

-6.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

257.1

0.2%

13.05

-5.1%

M TNN

232.2

2.1%

57.95

-3.4%

GT C O

212.1

-0.2%

0.29

-3.3%

OA N D O

162.4

3.5%

152.8

-0.7%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

11.25

-10.0%

ET ER N A

6.80

R T B R ISC OE A R D OVA NB J A P A ULGOLD

T ic k er

J A IZ B A N K

0.93

-3.1%

UB A

UB N

5.85

-2.5%

FB NH

143.5

3.3%

85.7

0.0%

61.0

8.5%

M A N SA R D

2.00

-2.0%

A IR T ELA F R I

T R A N SC OR P

1.23

-1.6%

OKOM UOIL

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Rand Merchant Bank Pledges to Partner Nigeria on Trade Facilitation Rand Merchant Bank has promised that it would continue to partner and support Nigeria’s government towards ensuring that the country becomes a hub for trade in the continent. The Co-Head, Banking Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, Taiwo Shote, said this as part of his contribution on a recent panel with the theme, “Implementing a 21st century trade economy: The challenge of transforming Nigeria into Africa’s business hub.” The panel was part of the GTR Trade conference, one of the world’s leading trade finance events. “As a bank, we intend to find ways to continuously partner and support the government in Nigeria becoming a hub for African trade,” Shote explained. Trade facilitation has been highlighted as a key objective in the country’s mission to boost economic growth.

To support this, Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had announced a group of policies aimed at promoting the nation as an African trade and investment hub, ranging from the enhancement of logistics corridors for perishable goods to the simplification, modernisation and harmonisation of trade documents and procedures. This is in addition to the support the Central Bank of Nigeria is providing through its various policies and incentives to drive non-oil exports in Nigeria with the intervention funds and recently the RT200 program which the CBN is aiming to drive exports to $200 billion in the next three to five years. “We have embraced the policies that have been implemented to drive economic development and have the expertise and resources to support the government from

a private sector perspective,” he added. The Export Expansion Facility Program (EEFP) is one of the initiatives borne out of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on export businesses. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council also created a fund with BOI acting as custodian of the Export Development Fund of N50 billion, a part of the federal government’s N2.3 trillion Economic Sustainability Plan. To date, over 1000 exporters had benefited from the program through fund assistance and capacity training,” Shote added. “Trade and Export can only be successful with the supporting infrastructure. The National Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP) was initiated to support the development of missing standards and quality control bodies in Nigeria in order to improve the competitiveness of Nigerian goods and services.

L-R: Executive Director, Okanlawon Adelagun; Managing Director/CEO, Daniel Braie; Chairman, Joshua Fumudoh; Company Secretary, Moses Omorogbe; Non-executive Director, Olakunle Agbebi and Tamunoye Alazigha, all of Linkage Assurance Plc during its 28th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos…recently

Kwara: 3,000 SMEs to Get PostCOVID 19 Relief Grants Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ About 3,000 Small Scale Business Enterprises (SMEs) owners in Kwara State have been selected to benefit from the first batch of operational cost grants under the Kwara COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Programme. The programme, a World Bank initiative to be underwritten by the State Government, is designed to cushion the effects of COVID-19, improve the state of MSMEs to boost the local economy, and increase the employment rate in Kwara state.

The Operational Team Lead of the Kwara COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Programme, Mr. Jaiye Jegede stated this in Ilorin in a statement on Sunday. He said, “4,225 successful applicants underwent the vetting process for disbursement linked indicator, DLI 3.2. At the end of the vetting process, over 3,000 successful applicants are currently being contacted for enumeration by agents from the Bank of Industry”. Jegede announced that over 20,000 applicants from across all 16 local governments had applied

through a hybrid of online and offline registration processes at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology and the Kwara state Social Investment Programmes office. “Following the registration which was open to all small business owners in Kwara state, over 4,000 successful applicants for the Operational cost grants (also known as disbursement linked indicator 3.2) were contacted by the Bank of Industry who are the implementing partners to fill a vetting form requesting for further information on their businesses,” he added.

De United Foods Industries, Two others form Dufil Prima Foods Kayode Tokede Dufil Prima Foods Plc makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has announced that it has just completed a Merger with three of its former subsidiaries, De United Foods Industries Limited (“De United), Northern Noodles Limited (NNL) and Pure Flour Mills Limited (PFM). These three former subsidiaries have now been dissolved without winding up leaving Dufil Prima foods Plc as the surviving enlarged Company. The company in a statement said the merger was achieved by a scheme of arrangement unanimously approved by the Shareholders of each Company and sanctioned by the Federal High Court and all appropriate

Regulatory Authorities. “These Regulatory Authorities include but are not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Board of Inland Revenue (FIRS). The consent of creditors was also duly obtained and the Federal Competition Commission and all other relevant Stakeholders duly notified. “The Merger guarantees that Dufil Prima Foods Plc as the surviving and enlarged Company shall be a stronger and more dependable manufacturing company that has the critical mass, product line diversity, structure and market intelligence to compete in the same market as other big manufacturing companies.

This is an attractive combination for stakeholders: customers will benefit from our wider and betterintegrated array of products and services; employees will enjoy the advantages and opportunities of being a part of a larger, stronger company; and shareholders will have the opportunity to continue to participate in the success of a bigger enterprise, “it added. The Chief Operating Officer, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Adesh Jain in the statement said, “Following receipt of all regulatory approvals, the union between Dufil Prima Foods Plc, De United Foods Industries Ltd, Northern Noodles Ltd and Pure Flour Mills Ltd took effect from the 1st of June 2022 as stipulated in the Scheme of Arrangement.

Bukka Hut Opens New Outlet in Ikorodu The Ayangbure of Ikorodu Kingdom, HRM Alayeluwa Oba (Kabiru Adewale Shotobi Adegorushen V has called for the establishment of more hospitality and tourism businesses in the town. The Monarch was speaking at the Grand Opening of a new Bukka Hut outlet which opened on Ayangburen Road in Ikorodu, on Saturday, June 25th, 2022. The Oba, who was the special guest of honour at the launch, noted that the presence of more

restaurants and hospitality businesses in Ikorodu would create a positive image for the ancient town, being one of the most populous Local Governments in Lagos State. According to him, “Bukka Hut Restaurant is at the centre of Ikorodu town and for the first time, people that come in to visit will have a taste of what Bukka Hut presents. Now, many people will not have to go far away to experience quality Nigerian delicacies and it will create a good

image for everyone in Ikorodu and impact the town. Food is very important, and the people will want more establishments like this.” The Managing Director/CEO of Bukka Hut Restaurant, Mr Rasheed Jaiyeola, while speaking at the launch of the 15th Bukka Hut outlet noted that the choice of Ikorodu was because of its population diversity, upbeat commercial activity and the exponential growth being witnessed in the community.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022

MARKET NEWS

Popoola: NGX Committed to Expanding Capital Market, Provide Inclusive Platform for SMEs Kayode Tokede The Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Mr. Temi Popoola has reiterated its commitment to expand the Nigerian capital market and providing inclusive platforms for a diverse stakeholders, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), to access capital. Popoola who said this during

his keynote address at the 2022 Annual Business Luncheon organised by the Capital Market Solicitors Association in Lagos, said, “It is important that capital markets are able to play a role in catalyzing growth within this sector. “The launch of the NGX Growth Board in 2019 is in keeping with this commitment. The NGX Growth Board is a veritable platform dedicated to encouraging small-cap and growth-oriented

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businesses to leverage the capital market to raise long-term capital, stimulate growth, and promote liquidity. “We are also working to establish the Technology Board, which will connect technology companies with an extensive pool of investors. “We are currently working on a slew of innovative approaches to attract capital market funding for the Technology portion of the SME

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sector as well as less formal ways to attract funding to the sector overall”. The event which was themed, “Capital Market, Startup Financing and Syndicate Funding: Ability of Small and MediumSized Enterprises to Access the Capital Market” had stakeholders across the capital market discuss and proffer solutions to the prevailing business constraints faced by SMEs. He restated its determination to provide SMEs

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access to investors, seeking viable returns on investments. Popoola noted that the theme of the event is apt as the role of SMEs in economic development cannot be overemphasized. According to him, Nigerian SMEs are critical components of the economy and are increasingly serving as the principal vehicle for the creation of employment and revenue. “SMEs offer the economy a

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steady supply of ideas, skills, and innovation, which are vital for promoting competition and efficient resource allocation. “Despite the importance of this sector, it faces material challenges that continue to lead to a decline in productivity. Some of these include power supply challenges, substandard trade facilitation infrastructure multiplicity of fees and taxes, and of course, lack of financing”, he added.

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TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UNVEILING OF 'MR. SPEAKER'... L-R: Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase; Kwara State Dep. Gov. Kayode Alabi; Ondo State Dep. Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; Aremo Segun Osoba; Chief of Staﬀ to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila; his wife, Salamatu Gbajabiamila; and Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, at the presentation and unveiling of 'Mr. Speaker', a book on the Speaker Gbajabiamila in Abuja… on Sunday.

One Year After, Police in Imo Arrest Killers of Gulak Amby Uneze in Owerri

The Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command yesterday announced that it has arrested one of the suspected killers of former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak. Gulak was gruesomely murdered on May 30, 2021, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri by gunmen. Briefing journalists yesterday, the Police said one Anosike Chimaobi of Umuedo Obohia, in the Ahiazu Mbaise council Area of the State was involved in the killing. The Command's Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam who paraded the suspect on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Mohammed Barde before newsman in Owerri, said Chimaobi who later confessed to the kidnap of one Jude Nwahiri, at Eke Nguru junction, Aboh Mbaise council area was equally involved in the attack and murder of many police officers

and collection of their rifles. He listed exhibits recovered from the suspect to include: one locally made pistol with two rounds of live ammunitions, one Biafra flag, 1 IPOB, ESN War flag and 30 war cutlasses. Abattam also named four suspects who he said were members of the outlawed IPOB/ESN but who claimed to be unknown gunmen terrorizing Oru East, Oru West and the State as a whole. “They are among the syndicates that burnt and attacked the palace of Dr. George Obiozor, the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on 19th March this year,” adding that the same syndicate kidnapped an abroad based philanthropist, Chief Okoro of Ubachima, AwoOmamma, Oru East Council Area when the victim visited his home town, shared palliatives and empowered some youths. According to the Police spokesman, a ransom of N1 million was collected by the hoodlums before

they released the victim while his police orderly-one Inspector Ado Ibrahim of 43 PMF was murdered by the hoodlums. Abattam said the suspects having committed the offence ran to Lagos State before the operatives of the Anti-kidnapping unit strategised and apprehended them, even as they confessed to be members of IPOB/ ESN, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder of the police officer. Shedding more lights in the police efforts to stem terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state, Abattam said upon receipt of credible intelligence that some members of IPOB/ESN had perfected plan to kidnap a Japanese-based Nigerian who visited his home town, Umutei Mgbele Oguta council area, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly swung into action, foiled the kidnap when the terrorist appeared on security officers uniform. The potential victim, he said was saved from being kidnapped while

the hoodlums resorted to robbing the people they got at the vicinity. Other three suspects namely Chigaemezu Esokwa aged 24 of Logara in the Ngor Okpala Council Area, Kelvin Afoku aged 21 of Umuoma Nekede-Owerri West LGA and Munachi Umunnawuike aged (26 years) of Umuanuma Aboh Mbaise LGA arrested for terrorism, kidnapping, Armed robbery/murder had all volunteered statements, confessed to the crime of armed robberies within the Naze Timber market and its environs with a number of exhibits recovered from them. The police explained: “Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. “The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota

Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. (Registration numbers are withheld for security reasons). “Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken. With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. “The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums where met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria.” Furthermore, the police noted that, “on sighting the Police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The gallant and battle ready Police officers swiftly returned the fire.

“The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered. “Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN. The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co- victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESN members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers. During the encounter, two of the police armored personnel carriers (APC) were riddled with bullets but survived the gun battle.” The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space.

August 1989, from where he was appointed in November 1992 as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary. He had served both as chairman and member of various boards and tribunals. Ariwoola was Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Limited, one of Oodua Investment conglomerates, between 1988 and 1992; and Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State, between May 1993 and September 1996, when he was posted out of the capital, Ibadan, to Saki High Court. Ariwoola also served on the election tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu states in 1999. He served on the election appeal courts in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola, and Ilorin at various times. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, his lordship served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions. He is also a fellow of International Dispute Resolution Institute (FIDRI), having been inducted in Dubai, U.A.E in 2014. He has attended many international and national conferences and workshops in France, USA, UK, and the UAE. Ariwoola is married with children.

colleagues on the bench of the apex court over unpleasant conditions. A statement by NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata, said while acknowledging the cordial working relationship between the Bar and the Bench during Muhammad's tenure, "It is, however, impossible to consider His Lordship's retirement in isolation of the recent unprecedented developments at the Supreme Court, where 14 Justices of the Court censured the outgone Chief Justice of Nigeria over His Lordship's handling of their welfare and related issues." Akpata added, "Beyond this, there is near universal agreement that public confidence in the judiciary and, indeed, the legal profession is at an all-time low.” NBA stated that there was now, more than ever, the need for urgent reforms in the judiciary in order to rebuild the almost dissipated confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary and the wider legal profession in Nigeria. It added that such should form the immediate first tasks for Ariwoola, as he took over the helm of affairs at the apex court. Akpata stated, "The NBA welcomes the appointment of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and pledges its readiness to work together with His Lordship and the judiciary in cleansing the Augean Stable and addressing the ills that have continued to plague, not just the judiciary, but the entire legal profession."

ARIWOOLA EMERGES ACTING CJN AFTER MUHAMMAD IS FORCED OUT era witnessed several landmark jurisprudential and policy decisions by the Supreme Court and, by extension, other courts established by the constitution. "CJN Tanko dealt firmly with the issue of reckless and indiscriminate grant of ex-parte orders that was assuming serious dimensions. History will be kind to Justice Tanko Muhammad for his modest contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary, the strengthening of our democracy and national development." Buhari used the occasion to confer on the ex-CJ the second highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He said, "In line with the custom of decorating Chief Justices of Nigeria with the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), and upon the advice of the Council of State in that regard, as his Lordship CJN I. Tanko Muhammad, is taking a bow from the Supreme Court, I hereby bestow on him the National Honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)." Buhari recalled that Muhammad, who was appointed acting CJN on January 25, 2019 and confirmed by the Senate on July 24, 2019, "was scheduled to retire from the Supreme Court on the last day of 2023. Unfortunately, as no man is infallible, ill-health has cut short Chief Justice Tanko’s leadership of the Nigerian judiciary at this time. "I am, therefore, constrained to

accept his retirement, albeit, with mixed feelings. Much as one may wish that the Chief Justice of Nigeria Muhammad Tanko is able to fully serve his term in office, it presupposes that he is able to perform the functions of the office without let, hindrance or any form of disability." The president explained that Muhammad's resignation was envisaged under Section 231 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which contains provisions relating to vacancy and the occupant of the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria being unable to perform the functions of the office for any reason. Buhari said, "Under a constitutional democracy, like ours, government powers and responsibilities are clearly allocated and shared among the three tiers: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The three organs must work harmoniously and optimally in accordance with their respective constitutional mandates.” On his commitment to separation of powers and the rule of law, the president said, "This occasion is an opportune time for me to, as always, assure the Nigerian judiciary that this administration is committed to ensuring the independence of the judiciary and will not do anything nor take any steps to undermine your independence. “We shall uphold the constitutional provisions on the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers." Speaking with newsmen after

his swearing in, Ariwoola assured that he would not fail Nigerians in his new assignment. He said, “What Nigerians expect from me is to comply, preserve and abide and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And so be it. That is what I will do, especially, with the cooperation of my brother Justices of the Supreme Court. We shall not fail Nigerians.” On how he intended to handle the current controversy at the Supreme Court, he said, “There is no controversy in the Supreme Court. We are one with the Chief Justice. That's why you heard the president say His Lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill-health. No controversy. We’re one.” Asked about the welfare issues raised in the letter addressed to the former CJN, Ariwoola explained, “It was an internal memo of the court. It was not a petition. It was not a letter. It was addressed by the brother Justices of the Chief Justice and presented to him, His Lordship, directly. There were issues to be resolved amongst justices.” Prodded further on whether those issues would be resolved under his leadership, Ariwoola said, “Yeah, we've started resolving it.”

A Glance at Ariwoola’s Proﬁle

Until his swearing-in yesterday as acting CJN, Ariwoola was the second most senior justice on the bench of the Supreme Court. Born on August 22, 1954, the Oyo State-born justice has been on the bench of the apex court for nearly

11 years, since his appointment on November 22, 2011. A 1980 law graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria bar and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate in July 1981. Before his elevation to the apex court, he was a justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011, after he was elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. He was first appointed a Judge of Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992, from private legal practice. The new CJN started his educational career at his hometown, Iseyin, at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole, in Iseyin Local government Area of Oyo State between 1959 and 1967. He was at the Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969, before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki, in Oyo North, Oyo State. He started his career as a State Counsel on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, and, later, as Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State, until 1988, when he voluntarily left the State Civil Service for private practice. He had worked as Counselin-Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN, between October 1988 and July 1989, when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co, a firm of legal practitioners and consultants, in Oyo town in

NBA Links Muhammad’s Resignation to Frosty Relations With Colleagues

The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said Muhammad's resignation could not be divorced from recent protests by his

Continued online

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CAPITAL MARKET MASTER PLAN... L-R: Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed; Director General Securities and Exchange Commission Mr Lamido Yuguda; and Representative of the Chairman, Capital Market Master Plan Implementation Council, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, during the Presentation of the Revised Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning in Abuja… yesterday

PDP to Obasanjo: Clarify Your Statement on Atiku Or We’ll Expose You Says proposed reconciliation committee to visit Wike, others John Shiklam in Kaduna The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to clarify his recent comments, regretting picking a running mate for the presidency in 1999 or the party would expose him by telling the world who he truly was. Obasanjo, had while addressing a leadership mentoring session with select students in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, said picking a running mate, when he wanted to become Nigeria’s president in 1999 was one of the mistakes in his life. “One thing that has happened to me is that God has never disappointed me and that is very important. For instance, one of the mistakes I made was picking a number two, when I was going to become president,” Obasanjo reportedly said. Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, was Obasanjo’s vice-president from 1999 to 2007. However, addressing a press conference on Monday in Kaduna,

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin, called on Obasanjo to clarify his statement within 48 hours. Jibrin said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement said to have been made by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, that it was a mistake for him to have appointed Atiku Abubakar as the Vice President in 1999.” Jibrin said although Obasanjo did not specifically mention Atiku’s name, the report of what he told his audience, was such that he was referring to the PDP presidential candidate. He said, “Obasanjo should come out and clarify the statement – whether he was misquoted or he meant what he said. It is when he makes that clarification that the PDP will officially reply him. “One can assumed that what he said may be correct, but we want to give him time up to tomorrow (Tuesday) or next (Wednesday), if he comes out to say he had been misquoted or he meant what he said on Atiku, you will hear the bombardment and I will break

the egg. “I will also tell Nigerians and the whole world who Obasanjo is, how Atiku assisted him to rule Nigeria and how Atiku refused his third term ambition. It is, therefore, very important that we hear from Obasanjo openly.” The BoT Chairman also disclosed that a reconciliation committee would be constituted to visit the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Nwike, who lost the presidential ticket and the vice-presidential nomination. “We, in PDP know how to

solve our problems. We know that Governor Nyesom Nwike may not be happy, it is the intention of this party to constitute a reconciliation committee that will meet Wike to talk to him, appeal to him and pray that he will not leave our party,” he said. Jibrin described Wike as “a great man, who has been fighting for the party and the party will not want to see him moving to another party,” Adding that, the party would meet with all the contestants (in the primaries) to bring them together. “We will all visit Wike together

and if it means kneeling down to Wike, we will kneel down for him,” the BoT Chairman said, noting also that Wike had on several occasions, declared that “he will never, never, leave PDP.” “We respect him, we respect his integrity and honesty in supporting the PDP. It is our believe that in any contest, there must be a winner and a loser,” he said. He called on members of the party to be united in order to win the 2023 elections, even as he lamented that the PDP lost the recent governorship election

in Ekiti because of lack of unity. “I want to call on PDP members to come together and work together in unity. We should not be divided against ourselves. We must unite within ourselves. But if we begin to have problems within ourselves, there would be more problems for us. “What happened in Ekiti should not happen in the next governorship election in Osun State.We lost Ekiti, because we are not even united among ourselves. If we are united, we would have won in Ekiti hands down,” he claimed.

Osun 2022: PDP Appoints Diri, Wike, Makinde, Tambuwal, 124 Others to Campaign Council Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, constituted a 128-man national campaign council for the Osun State governorship election coming up July 16.

The campaign council is headed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri as chairman. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, was also named among the 128 other members of the campaign council by the party.

Others were the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and other PDP governors. A former President of the Sen-

ate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other members of the PDP stakeholders were also on board. According to PDP’s National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature, the council would be inaugurated today, Wednesday, at the party’s headquarters in Abuja

have already been "taken out of circulation" with many more on the NDLEA's watchlist along with their foot soldiers. Marwa said the agency had been involved in a series of training, including on Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) for the officers, "to refocus from the criminalisation of drug users to provide the full gamut of health services for them." According to him, the agency has this year alone, counselled and rehabilitated 3, 523 drug users mostly through brief interventions in its facilities. "We also extended the DPTC training to several NGOs to empower them with the requisite skills and knowledge to cascade the effect to communities and the grassroots. "Given the dearth of treatment facilities in the country, it will be impossible to make the kind of gains we are targeting. To this end, we proposed the establishment of model rehabilitation centres

to further make treatment accessible and affordable to more people. The good news is that President Muhammadu Buhari graciously, with the support of the National Assembly, approved the establishment of six rehabilitation centres across the country, three of which have been approved in this year’s budget. "We didn’t stop there. We’re also lobbying the private sector, by encouraging the leading lights in the business community to build or contribute to the development of rehabilitation centres as part of their corporate social responsibility. In this respect, we have gotten some positive, concrete responses as well as strong commitments from other quarters.” Also speaking, Chairman of MTN Foundation and former Minister of Health, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said the Foundation would continue to support the NDLEA in its effort to rid the country of illicit drugs.

30,000kgs of Drugs, Arrests 294 Suspects in One Year

OSINBAJO: DAYS OF DRUG ABUSE ARE NUMBERED IN NIGERIA of our population. He said young people who are usually the most vulnerable to drug, also form the majority of armed combatants and the resultant widespread use of drugs by the terrorists. "Indeed, some studies have shown that after controlling for armed groups and individual level variables, drug intake and alcohol consumption, sharply increase the violent actions perpetrated during conflicts. "For women and girls in particular, the situation is more harrowing. They're exposed to severe traumatic situations. Due to violence, and sometimes sexual exploitation, especially in camps, which together with other stressful factors of displacement can lead to drug use. These problems are all worsened by the expected lack of access to treatment and therapies for drug abuse in refugee or IDP camps." Against this background, the vice president said the federal

government had also taken both specific and general actions over the past seven years, all directed at trying to control or deal with the menace of illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria in particular. These actions, Osinbajo said, include adopting a synergized and multi-agency approach, adding, "the government has deployed counterterrorism and Counter Narcotics initiatives led by the NDLEA which have successfully disrupted several high profile drug networks. And as part of these efforts with the funding from the European Union, and technical support from the UNODC relevant MDAS and civil society organisations, were rolled out by the National Drug Control master plan for 2021 to 2025. "This plan itself leverages an extensive evidence base, including the very first National Drug Use Survey which was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2018. "The master plan adopts a

comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing issues of drug supply reduction, issues of drug abuse and it has it is based on four thematic pillars, drug supply reduction, demand reduction, access to drug on medical purposes, and governance and coordination. "The plan is not just an approach majorly targeted at drug supply reduction, is a much more balanced plan and it is much more health centered and looks at drug control not just from the point of view of abuse but also from a health perspective." Meanwhile, the NDLEA has commenced measures aimed at improving access to treatment, care and rehabilitation in order to stave off the public health problems that are drug abuse-related as part of radical reforms in the fight against abuse in the country, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), earlier in his welcome address, revealed the arrest of 10 major drug barons which he said

Ondo NDLEA Seizes

In a related development, the NDLEA, Ondo Command yesterday disclosed that it had seized about 30,000kgs of drugs from June 2021 to date. The State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Kayode Raji, stated this in Akure, during a sensitisation and road walk, organised to commemorate the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking. Raji said marijuana, puff Shisha, alcoholic drinks and other deadly mixtures, such as “scoochies or skushis” topped the list of the most consumed substances among the youths in the state. He noted that other deadly drugs and substances the teenagers also abuse included Rohypnol, “Ref” as they call it, “gegemu”, Arizona and Loud, believed to be enhanced Marijuana that produce stronger effect than the regular one. Continued online

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Organ Harvesting Saga: Ekweremadu, Wife Sue NIMC, NIS, Others Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, have sued the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and others over controversy surrounding David Ukpo’s real age. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), others mentioned in the suit are: the Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); StanbicIBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively. Ekweremadu and his wife were last Thursday remanded in the United Kingdom (UK) police custody, after they were arraigned before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel of Ukpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting. The couple, however, denied the allegations and the court adjourned till July 7 for hearing. However, in in an originating summon marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/984/2022, dated and filed June 27 by their counsel, Adegboyega

Awomolo, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, the Ekweremadus prayed the court for an order

directing the NIMC to supply them with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo.

The applicants said Ukpo’s National Identification Number (NIN): 19438077110, which is in the possession of the agency,

should be produced for the purpose of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish their innocence with

respect to Ukpo’s age in the criminal charges against them before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court.

THANK-YOU VISIT TO GOVERNOR UGWUANYI...

L-R: The Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Pedro Okwudili Nwankwo; former Presidential Aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Charlie Ugwu; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; the ChiefWhip and Member representing Awgu North Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Jane Eneh; and her Awgu South counterpart, Hon. Johnson Chukwuobasi, when the people of Awgu Egbeleri Community paid a Thank-you visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, for the appointment of Prof. Aloysius Okolie as the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology in Enugu…recently

Nasarawa APC Senator, Unremitted Deductions: Ogun Workers Embark on Indefinite Strike Akwashiki, Dumps Party James SowoleinAbeokuta

Igbawase Ukumba inLafia The Senator representing Nasarawa North senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Godiya Akwashiki, yesterday announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Akwashiki made public his defection from the APC at the headquarters of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area when he inaugurated the construction of a two kilometres Nassarawa Eggon-Galle road. He, however, kept his teeming supporters in suspense of his next political tent, as according to the senator, “in the next 72 hours, you

will see a platform that I will join and we will all move together.” Akwashiki explained that he was dumping APC due to the alleged doctoring of delegates’ list by the national secretariat of the party during the recently conducted primary elections of the APC. He said: “You all have seen and are aware of what transpired during the APC primary election in Akwanga. I had withdrawn from the race because the delegates’ lists were doctored by the party. “I have been under pressure by you to leave the party, and today, I have answered your call to leave APC to actualise my re-election ambition.”

Mass Comms Graduates of MAPOLY Marks 30th Anniversary The Association of Mass Communication Graduates of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State has concluded plans to mark its 30th graduation anniversary on July 1 in the school. AMACOG 92 is an association of 1992 graduates of the then Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, now known as MAPOLY. The graduates said the visit would allow the old students to support the Department of Mass Communication of their alma mater in key areas. A statement by the Chairman,

AMACOG 92, Adekunle Adeshina, stated that the members planned to unveil a television studio, which the old students had renovated and in which modern equipment had been installed. The presentation of the renovated studio is expected to draw the Acting Rector, MAPOLY, Adeoye Odedeji; Head of Department, Mass Communication Department, Lekan Togunwa; and Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, who is also a member of the association.

NG-CARES: 7,400 Kebbi Farmers Get N2.4bn Input, Fertilizer

Ismail Adebayo inBirninKebbi

No fewer than 7,400 small stakeholders’ farmers associations in Kebbi State have benefitted from the N2.4 billion NG-CARES federal government agricultural programme to boost food security in the state and country at large. Speaking during a ceremony that was organised by Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KARDA) for the distribution of fertilizer and other farm input to farmers, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Abdullahi Maigari Dakingari, said that the fertilizer

distribution to 7,400 farmers in the state was a stimulus to cushion the effect of COVID-19 and help famers to increase their food production capacity and boost food security in the state and the nation at large. Dakingari said that Kebbi is a serious agricultural sate that is blessed with enormous resources, including committed farmers and good leadership to boost is agricultural potentials. He said that the successes recorded in rice production in the state have demonstrated the state government’s commitment to supporting famers.

The Organised Labour in Ogun State yesterday declared an indefinite strike over the alleged refusal of the state government to pay their 21 months’ salary deductions and the “pathetic plight” of workers in the state. The strike, according to Labour, followed the expiration of the ultimatum issued by the workers to the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over his government inability

to pay 21 months deductions, nonpayment of eight years statutory leave allowances and breach of the state Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) among other demands. The leadership of the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), declared the strike while

addressing workers at the arcade ground at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The strike, which will take effect from 12 a.m. on Tuesday, would affect ministries, agencies, hospitals and public schools. The workers, who were singing solidarity songs against the state government, berated Abiodun for failing to honour the agreement contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2020. Declaring the strike, the state

Chairman of NLC, Emmanuel Bankole, said the strike became imperative following several failed attempts to meet the governor over their plights, saying the government has failed to respond to over seven letters written to it on the issue. Bankole, who was flanked by the state Chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi, and the Chairman of JNC, Isa Olude, directed all the workers in the employ of the state government to stay away from work.

INEC Registers 10,487,972 New Voters, Youths Account for 58% The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the ongoing voters registration exercise has recorded a total of over 10 millions voters. In an update of current registered voters, INEC said that 10,487,972 Nigerians have registered for the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) Giving a breakdown of the registration of voters, INEC said

that those that have completed their registration stood at 8,631,696, comprising 3,250,449 that registered online and 5,381,247 that did . physical registration. According to the data posted by INEC 4,292,690 of the registrants are male, while 4,339,006 are female. People with disability (PWDs) are 67,171. The youths consist of the highest number of registrants

with 6,081,456, which is about 58 per cent t of those so far registered. According to occupational distribution, artisan registrants at 497,179, farmers and fishers are 1,104,549 and those on business categories are 1,578,837. For the public servants, the number of registrants is 92,273 and the civil servants are 274,961, while house wives who have registered are 1,005,137.

The students are the highest registrants so far with 3,084,921. The traders who have registered are 500,152, others are 493,684. According to the INEC data, the registrants among those above 70 years and above are 97,279, while the gender data showed that 4,292,690 are male, while 4,339,006 are female. The middle age of between 35 to 49 years are 1,748,993.

ASUU Strike: NGO Vows to Lead Women on National Protest The Save Public Education Campaign, a non-government organization (NGO), has said it will lead a national mass protest to bring an end to the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Convener of the group, Ms Vivian Bello, made this known at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

Bello said that the plight of Nigerian children cuts across every nooks and crannies of the country hence women were mostly at the receiving end, adding that it was only people’s will that could defeat attacks on public education. “Education is non-negotiable as there is no alternative to it. The insecurity we are experiencing

today is traceable to the failure of the education sector. “We have watched with total awe and abhorrence the near total collapse of tertiary education in Nigeria. “Distressing statistics show that ASUU has been on strike for a total of over 725 days, since the beginning of this administration

over issues that bother largely on poor welfare, university autonomy and lack of adequate funding for universities. “When tallied inversely, this amounts to an entire two and half years’ loss, in the educational lives of innocent Nigerian children/ students in public universities across the country.

Hijab Judgement: Judge Queries Lawyer over Mode of Appearance in Court Wale Igbintade Justice Tijani Ringim, of the federal high court in Lagos yesterday queried human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo over his mode of appearance in court, and asked him to address the court on why he should be heard. The lawyer had dressed in a

similar way to Supreme Court, Abuja last week in protest against the recent ruling of the apex court permitting Muslim students in Lagos schools to wear hijab with their uniform. The lawyer also appeared bare footed with cowries tied on his two legs. His wig was decorated with two colourful

long feathers, with cowries in his two hands and tied a red wrapper and wore his lawyers gown on it. The human rights lawyer who appeared before in court few minutes to 9am yesterday, was greeted with resistance by some lawyers who opposed to his appearance before the court

court in such dressing. Some lawyers argued that he cannot be heard as he was not properly dressed as a lawyer before the court. However, Omihrhobo told the court that it will be a violation of his right if not heard noting that court rules cannot be above the Constitution of Nigeria.

Fayemi Appoints New Head of Service, Bans Roadside Trading Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the appointment of Mr. Bamidele Agbede as the new Head of Service (HoS) in the State Civil Service. Agbede, until his new appointment, was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry

of Works and Transport. The appointment takes over from the state first female Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi. Babafemi is billed to retire from the state civil service on June 30, 2022, having attained the mandatory 35 years in the service. Agbede’s appointment as the Head of Service will take

effect from July 1, 2022. In another development, Fayemi has given a seven-day ultimatum to roadside traders at Oja Oba and other strategic places in Ado- Ekiti, the State capital, to relocate to Agric Olope and Awedele markets within the metropolis. Dr. Fayemi, gave the order

in Ado-Ekiti at a meeting with stakeholders including security agencies, market women leaders, transport union leaders, environmental sanitation officers, representatives of government agencies, and chairmen Ado Ekiti local government and local council development areas yesterday.

TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Police Arrest Two Herdsmen for Lynching Man over Death of Cow in Lagos Arrest three for forceful removal of a teen’s eyeballs in Bauchi

Rebecca Ejifoma and Segun AwofadejiinBauchi There was chaos in Agemowo area of Badagry in Lagos State yesterday after a bus conductor was lynched by a group of herdsmen for allegedly running over their cow on the highway. The cows were said to have strayed into the highway, crossing over the Lagos/Badagry expressway at 6.30am. While the bus with registration number FKJ 756 XH, reports have it, knocked down two of the cows, one of them died. In a fit of rage, the herders reportedly pursued the bus. Reports have it that while the driver took to his heels, the cowmen caught up with the conductor who bore the brunt of the incident. Sharing an account of the incident, a commercial bus driver, Olatunji said: “The cows rammed into the bus on the express road. As soon as the accident happened, the herdsmen at Agbo-Malu began

to chase the bus. “Fortunately, the driver managed to escape unhurt while they caught the conductor. They removed his clothes and beat him to a pulp.” The herders were said to have returned to the scene after they discovered the conductor was still alive. “When he rose and started moving towards Mowo police station to seek refuge, the herders quickly grabbed him and killed him,” he stated. The State Police Spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident. “Two cows were hit but one died. The two cattle herders attacked someone they mistook for the vehicle conductor resulting in his death. “The bus driver and his conductor were the only occupants of the vehicle and they were said to be rushing to Age-Mowe to scout for passengers when the cows strayed onto their bus. Angry residents blocked the highway in protest over the killing.”

Hundeyin noted that the DPO, Morogbo Division, assisted by soldiers from 243 Recce Battalion, Badagry successfully cleared the

obstruction. He also confirmed that normalcy has since returned to the area. “It is entirely false that

the victim was turned back when he sought refuge in the police station. He did not make it off the accident scene, let alone reach

the station. The two herders have been arrested. The investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided subsequently,” he said.

CAPACITY BUILDING...

L-R: Director, Engineering Infrastructure, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Babatunde Kuye, who represented the Director General of BPP; Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, and Senator Anthony Agbo, who represented the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) during a two-day training workshop on procurement and financial Regulations held for NASENI staff in Zuba, Niger State...recently

Christian Women Group Makinde, Oyetola to Reconstruct Iwo Decries Insecurity in Nigeria Interchange-Lalupon-Iwo-Osogbo Road Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Christian Women Fellowship International (CWFI), a non-denominational women organisation that was founded by the Presiding Bishop of Church of God Mission (CGM), Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, has decried the prevailing insecurity in the country. Speaking to journalists at the end of the group’s ‘Leaders Retreat’ in Benin City, Edo State, at the weekend, the National Vice President of CWFI, Rev. Mrs. Nnenna Godson, expressed worry about the spate of insecurity, lamenting that so many women

have been turned to widows while so many of their children have been killed in battle fields. Godson said: “As women, we are embittered, we are worried. You can’t go anywhere you want to go because of insecurity. We are worried and we have called on God. We are praying and God will do it for us by rescuing our country Nigeria from the hand of evil ones.” Also in her speech, CWFI Board Member, Skills Acquisition, Rev. Mrs. Ereda-Idahosa Ajayi, disclosed that over three million women have benefitted from the organisation’s micro credit loans and skills empowerment since inception.

Experts Task Nigerian Youths on Mental Health, Marital Relationship SundayOkobi Health experts have tasked Nigerian youths to watch their actions and inactions in order not to fall victim of mental health and failed marital relationship. The experts stated that there was need for the youths, particularly young adults, to keep away from activities that would put them under pressure to do things that would endanger their lives and destabilise their future. This is coming on the heels of the increase number of Nigerians, especially the youths, who have

become victims of mental illness, failed relationships and marriages in recent times. The experts, Dr. Olakunle Olatokunbo Onakoya and Pastor (Mrs.) Gold Adeoye, gave the advice at a one-day workshop on mental health challenges and marital relationship organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province Two, Ikeja. Speaking on mental health, Onakoya, a medical doctor, enumerated its cases and clinical features the citizenry should watch out for and seek help before it is too late.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, have concluded plans to jointly rehabilitate and reconstruct the Iwo Road interchange- to Ogunremako Junction-Lalupon, down to Iwo-Osogbo road. The road is a major link between the neighbouring South-west states. The Commissioners for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport in Oyo State, Professor Daud

Kehinde Sangodoyin and his Osun State counterpart, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, who jointly announced the historic collaboration yesterday , at a press conference in Ibadan, said the development would enhance the quality of lives of the people. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Sangodoyin as explaining that Oyo State will handle 29.2 kilometres

of the over 80 kilometres road project. He stated that a section of the road belongs to the federal government, while other parts belong to the states, adding that the federal government has been notified of the impending construction. He also noted that Oyo State will take care of the section from the Iwo Road Interchange, Ibadan, to the boundary with Osun State,

while Osun State will handle rest to Osogbo. He said: “On the authority of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and Governor Gboyega Oyetola, we are here to address the press on the joint collaboration of the proposed rehabilitation; reconstruction and overlaying of Iwo Road interchange road to Ogunremako junction, down to Lalupon, which is the boundary between Osun and Oyo States.

NHRC Wants Security Agencies to Stop Torturing Citizens

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has spoken against torture by security and other law enforcement agents in the country on citizens. The commission, therefore, called on the government and stakeholders at all levels to work harder to ensure that torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment meted out on citizens by security and

law enforcement personnel is completely eradicated in the society, even as it called on the government to immediately put mechanism in place to check terrorism, kidnapping and banditry. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made the call in Abuja during the celebration of the 2022 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Speaking at the event last

weekend to commemorate the day observed globally on June 26 annually, Ojukwu called on security agencies to desist from any form of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment while carrying out their operations, urging them to embrace international best practices in conducting investigations which according to him gives high regard to respect for human rights. He equally expressed concern

over private citizens’ involvement in this ugly practice, describing it as deeply disturbing to the commission. According to him, “The international event is significant because it provides the opportunity to reassess the conduct of law enforcement agencies, groups, and individuals in order to ensure that they operate within the ambit of national, regional or international law.”

Emenike Promises New Deal for Abia’s Oil Communities Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has assured the oil bearing communities of a better deal when the main opposition party comes to power in 2023. He gave the assurance at Ohambele, Ukwa East Local Government Area during a meeting with party stakeholders, noting that the

entire Ukwa East and West local governments have been serially neglected by successive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments. Abia earned its status as oil producing state and component of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) due to the oil wells in Ukwa West and the capped oil ones in Ukwa East. Emenike, who described Ukwa as “a blessed land” with oil and good topography, decried the persistent neglect

of both Ndoki and Asa people, whose land is the goose that lays the golden egg for Abia State. He had, while on his way to Ukwa East with his entourage, experienced the deplorable state of the roads leading into Ukwa, noting that it was the effect of bad governance that has spread across Abia. According to him, nobody “after passing through this road(Azumini-Opobo road) and others in Abia State” would not be moved to be part of the

coming change in the state. “When the change comes that road you’re seeing in very bad shape will be in good shape,” he said, adding that it appears that the ruling PDP government “loves bad roads” given the decay all over the state. The Abia APC leader regretted that building of roads has continued to be part of election campaigns whereas an elected government should be talking of bigger issues and not mundane ones like road construction.

No Man Will Appoint a Governor for Rivers People, Says APC Chieftain Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former representative of the Rivers West senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake, has stated that individual will appoint a governor for the people of Rivers State. Ake made the declaration

yesterday while speaking at the conclusion of inauguration of registration of officers for the project, ‘Senator Magnus Abe (SMA) 2023’, at Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state. Performing the exercise, he said the aspiration of Senator Magnus Abe to be on the ballot in the forthcoming governorship election in the state is a project that has come to stay.

Ake said: “Abe is an illustrious son of Rivers State that we are proud of. What we are doing here today has been done in Port Harcourt for Rivers East senatorial district and Ahoada Town for Rivers West senatorial district. “We are to confirm the statement made by Abe that we will be on the ballot in 2023. No human will stop Abe from being on the ballot to contest

for the governorship in 2023 neither will any of them be able to appoint a governor for the Rivers people. What we are doing is a prelude. “We are here to tell you that from what we are seeing, Abe will be in the Government House in 2023. We are knocking at the Government House door and asking the occupant to start packing and get ready to vacate.”

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Okagbare’s Ban Disqualiﬁes Nigeria from World Championships’ Women’s 4x100m Relay Athletics Integrity Unit extends her ban now to 11 years

Duro Ikhazuagbe The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) yesterday announced that banned Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, 32, has been found to have committed additional anti-doping rule violations – specifically evading sample collection, and tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control process. For this, Okagbare’s current 10-year ban from athletics has been extended by one year (now 11 years in total). Sadly for Nigeria, by this decision against this former Nigerian and African champion, the country has lost the opportunity to field her ladies for the women’s 4x100m relay at next month’s World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA. “This is because six days after Okagbare evaded sample collection (13 June 2021), she competed in the 4x100m relay event at the Nigeria Olympic Trials at Yaba Tech Sports Ground in Lagos, with her relay squad qualifying for this year’s World Championships,” observed the AIU last night. “Therefore, all individual and relay results involving Okagbare, from 13 June 2021, are now disqualified

under the rules,” concludes the statement from AIU last night. Okagbare was suspended on July 31, 2021 from the semi finals of the women’s 100m of the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. On the even of the event in Tokyo, AIU announced that the double Commonwealth Games sprint winner in Glasgow had tested positive for human growth hormones. Further investigation of the case by FBI revealed that Okagbare was involved in an orchestrated doping plot involving others. Her telephone exchanges with the supplier of the drugs were obtained by the FBI. Initial plans to prosecute her for criminal offenses were later dropped by the American authorities but this lengthy ban has sort of called time on her illustrious track & field career. Before running into this dope matter that has now truncated her career, Okagbare won a silver medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the 2013 world championships, the Nigerian track queen also collected a silver in the long jump as well as a bronze in the 200m at the 2013 worlds in Moscow behind gold medal winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

VIP Shelter for Abuja Stadium Delivered The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, has taken delivery of a world-class, FIFA standard VIP team shelter for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. The facility, which is the first of its kind in the country, is a new customised portable VIP facility(FIFA designed and approved) with ergonomic seat and back in Nigeria’s green and white colourful. It also has the following components: Head rest; Back rest; Fully padded fire - resistant polyurethane foam with double density; Polyurethane armrest with integrated cup- holder; and Galvanized Steel , Aluminum foot rest surface with high capacity hard - nylon pivoting wheels on both sides. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Match International, Wahid Akanni who handed over the facilities to the PS, the total weight of the structure is 225cm, total depth 180cm and 54 seats in all, for players, referees and team officials. “It is totally dismountable,” he stressed. Akanni, a former Nigerian international played for both the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles before traveling abroad for further studies. He commended the Sports Ministry for doing everything to give the Abuja stadium the very best of facilities. Akanni extended his kudos to Sports

Minister, Chief Sunday Dare, “for showing a strong desire to turn around sports facilities in the country.” The ex-international revealed that other sports stadia in the country also needed to be upgraded with such modern VIP team shelters. The Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar used the occasion to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to developing sports infrastructure for Nigerian youth and also highlighted the foresight of the Minister Sunday Dare in rehabilitating the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Blessing Okagbare...ban now extended to 11 years

Super Falcons Arrive Morocco in Search of 10th Continental Title Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s Super Falcons flew into Casablanca yesterday enroute Rabat, Morocco, one week before the kickoff of the 12th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The nine-time African champions are scheduled to do their final skill honing in the Moroccan City before taking

WA F C O N 2 0 2 2 on rivals Banyana Banyana of South Africa in a crunch Group C opening game on July 4 in the same city. The Nigerian ladies are also scheduled to play Botswana on Thursday, July 7 and complete the group phase with Burundi

on Sunday, July 10. Before flying out of Lagos, Super Falcons were serenaded with a send-forth sumptuous dinner at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on Sunday night by President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick. According to Pinnick, “There is

President of the Nigeria Football Federal (NFF), Amaju Pinnick (5th, right seated) and Chairperson of the NWPL, Aisha Falode (seated next to Pinnick, right) with Super Falcons and oﬃcials of the team shortly after the send forth dinner in Lagos on Sunday night

not much for me tell you about the need to go all out there and conquer; it is something you are used to because you have the spirit, the energy and the aura of champions. “You have won this trophy nine times out of 11 and you have to go for the 10th with equal passion and desire,” observed the NFF chief. He however admonished the Falcons not to think they will have a smooth sail to their 10th trophy without stiff opposition. “Surely, there will be teams that would believe they can topple you from your throne; from your position as champions. I have no doubt that you have the capacity to deal with every opposition and emerge champions once more.” Pinnick’s dinner guests included NFF Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Ms Aisha Falode; Head Coach, Randy Waldrum and his assistants; 25 players and; Super Falcons’ backroom staff. All four semi-finalists in Morocco will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand next year, with the fifth-placed team handed an opportunity to also gain a place through a Playoff Tournament taking place early next year.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Transfer News: Chelsea Contact City over Sterling

Raheem Sterling...wanted at Stamford Bridge

NOC, IOC Call for Global Peace Nigeria at the weekend joined the rest of the world in calling for global peace across all nations. The call was made by President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, on the occasion of the 2022 Olympic Day celebration held on Saturday. In his keynote address before flag-off of the event at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, the NOC president in collaboration with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, appeled to

member- nation of the Olympic movement to always allow peace to reign. Gumel who read the message from the IOC president said, " our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olympic Games in 1894 having seen it as a way to promote peace among nations and people. "Always visionary, he said the institution of Olympic Games proper can become a potent factor in securing universal peace," adding that the purpose of the Olympic movement is to promote peace

through sports. "We need to exercise in everything we do so that we can have rest of mind because without peace, one cannot have rest of mind. So let us continue to pray to God to continue to guide and protect us so that whatever we do, will be in the best interest of our country and ourseves so that everybody will be happy. Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary General of the NOC, Olabanji Oladapo, who described sports as a bridge builder, thanked the IOC boss for sustaining the values of

L-R: President of Nigerian Olympians Association, Henry Amike; Chairman, Sports for All, Anthony Oyetayo; President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, at the aerobic session at the Sportscity in Lagos...last Saturday

the Olympic movement and commended the participants for being part of the success stories. Everybody including the NOC president, the Secretary General and Mrs Nkana Mbora

who represented the sports minister took part in aerobic exercise while there were demonstration of other sports. Certificates were given to all participants at the end of the exercise.

Chelsea have made contact with Manchester City about a move for England forward Raheem Sterling. Sterling, who joined from Liverpool in a £49m deal in 2015 and has scored 131 goals in 339 games, is a major transfer target for new Blues owner Todd Boehly. It is understood Chelsea are yet to lodge a formal bid for the 27-year-old, but one is expected shortly. Sterling has a year left on his contract and is understood to be reviewing his options. Sterling, who has 77 England caps, has never made any secret of his desire to play as much as possible and be a central figure in a team that challenges for major honours. He could be the Blues first major signing since they were taken over by a consortiumled by Boehly in May. Chelsea are looking to boost their attacking ranks after allowing Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku to rejoin Inter Milan on a season-long loan. Since Pep Guardiola became manager in 2016, only Sergio Aguero (124) has scored more goals for City than Sterling (120). Sterling scored 13 goals in 30 Premier League appearances last season as he won his fourth league title and ninth major honour in seven seasons with City. But his opportunities were restricted by last summer's signing of Jack Grealish,while forwards Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have arrived at Etihad Stadium in this transfer window.

Masai Ujiri Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from University of Toronto President of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, has been conferred with a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of Toronto. The former D’Tigers player was honoured for his achievements as an NBA team president that led Raptors to their first title and a humanitarian committed to meaningful social change. He was presented with the award last Friday. Masai is currently involved in building 100 standard basketball courts across the continent of Africa. The first set of the courts were fully developed and handed over to communities and schools across Africa in the last quarter of 2021. The project being handled through the Giant of Africa Foundation which he co-founded has donated courts in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Rwanda and Senegal between September and May 2022. In the last few weeks Ujiri played a prominent role in getting the Nigerian government to reverse a decision that would

have kept the country out international basketball for at least two years. Born in the U.K., Ujiri spent his childhood in Nigeria. He and his peers played soccer, but Ujiri used to pass a basketball court on the way to school and

would often stop to shoot a few hoops – with a soccer ball. “I fell in love with the game,” he told GQ magazine. “I was more talented in soccer, but the game of basketball – it just blew me away.” Read the rest of the story on www.thisdaylive.com

Masai Ujiri...honoured by Toronto University for NBA and human capital development contributions

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

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MISSILE

PDP to Abdullahi Adamu

“It is pertinent to remind Abdullahi Adamu that election is not warfare. Directing his party members to ‘go down to the trenches’, in the Osun State governorship election and brazenly asserting zero tolerance for election defeat cannot ﬁnd accommodation within the ambits of the law. It is distressing that the APC has become so chaotic in the pursuit of its territorial occupation agenda…”--- PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accusing the APC Chairman of inciting the Osun electorate.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Exit of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CJN Y abati1990@gmail.com

esterday, Nigerians before mid-day, were treated to the news that Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) had resigned his appointment on health grounds. Arise TV broke the news, and it was my lot to make the announcement, with Arise News quoting impeccable and credible sources. It was a day of excitement for me: it looked to me really as if the CJN had overstayed his welcome but at the same time it was on the same day that the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) shortlisted the name of Mrs. Abimbola Onikepo Braithwaite, editor of the Law pages of ThisDay newspaper, for the second year in a row as a potential Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) under the academic category. Mrs. Braithwaithe has been a major force in the legal profession, using her platforms in the media and in practice to advance the cause of the rule of law, to explain the law, and promote enlightenment and the cause of justice on a weekly basis through the exalted platform of the This Day newspaper law pages. Her commitment in this regard has been exemplary. I find her analysis and choice of contributors and subjects consistently on point, making her law pages a weekly must-read for the learned and the unlearned and the general community, seeking deep insights into fine points of law. I pray she succeeds this time. The final selection of the SAN Class of 2022 should be rigorous and thorough. The Silk must be a true garment of distinction, not a chieftaincy title. But of course, the bigger news was the sudden announcement of the resignation of His Lordship, Justice Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad as CJN. I wondered after reading the news: did he jump? Was he pushed? Is this just about his health? What has been reported is clear: he resigned on health grounds. Ordinarily that should be enough. The job of a Supreme Court Justice requires that he should be compos mentis and enjoy the agility of the highest order to lead a nation-wide body of judex, provide leadership at the Bar and the Bench and at the same time run the activities of the apex court of the land. The CJN is also the Chair of the National Judicial Council, with all of that body’s sensitive responsibilities. He is the de facto head of the judiciary under Sections 6 and 231 of the Nigerian Constitution. Any drama, change, or withdrawal at that level of government cannot be taken lightly. A change of command at the apex court in an election season that has begun and the general elections just about seven months away, is also a matter of serious national consideration with implications for the entire democratic process, the judiciary being an aspect of that. Let no one be under any illusion: Tanko Ibrahim Muhammed’s sudden resignation as the Chief of Justice of Nigeria is not just one of those events. It deserves closer interrogation. He assumed office as CJN under controversial circumstances, he has now stepped down in an even more controversial manner. He became a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2007, from the Court of Appeal where he served for 13 years, and became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, first in acting capacity on January 25, 2019, and then substantively, on July 24, 2019. He succeeded Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen whose exit from the Supreme Court Bench is probably the most controversial ever in the history of the Supreme Court. Many believe that Onnoghen was pushed out of office more for political reasons than for his own infractions. Onnoghen himself two years after his removal had cause to disclose that he was unceremoniously removed from office by the Buhari government because it was believed that he had a secret meeting with former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Dubai before the 2019 general elections. Atiku at the time, as he now is, was the Presidential standard bearer of the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) In January 2019, a month to the general

Tanko elections, Onnoghen was removed from office, via the instrumentality of an ex parte order, and tried before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on a six-count charge of corruption, including false declaration of assets, and the ownership of foreign currency accounts which were never declared. Onnoghen was convicted on all six counts and banned from holding public office for 10 years. He was additionally ordered to forfeit all the five accounts said not to have been declared by him between 2009 and 2015. Thus ended the tenure of the 15th substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Questions were raised about procedure, especially why the CJN as he then was had to be taken before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, instead of the National Judicial Council (NJC). Onnoghen insisted that he had done no wrong. Many Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and others observed at the time that, whereas Justice Onnoghen may have committed one or two errors of oversight, his removal was more about the 2019 election, and the attempt by the ruling party to seize control of the post-election process. Wherever he is today, Onnoghen must be having a smirk on his face. It is election season again, soon it would be time for another round of election petitions and tribunals, and another CJN has had to go. Many in the know would readily whisper that Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed has been very scarce in circulation for a while due to ill-health, but these persons also express concern about the timing of his exit, and the events leading up to his resignation. Last week, a letter was leaked in the public domain accusing the now former CJN of mismanagement of the resources of the Supreme Court and poor leadership. Fourteen Justices of the Supreme Court accused Tanko Muhammed, CJN (as he then was) of travelling up and down with his “spouse, children and staff” while Justices of the Court were not even allowed to go on training or travel with assistants. They said they work long hours daily without adequate access to power supply or internet services, and that the state of affairs in the Supreme Court of Nigeria had become deplorable. They accused the CJN of running a one-man show and ignoring important matters of welfare. They said “this is unacceptable”. They threatened “to take further steps”. The CJN fired back through his spokesperson, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, who wrote that the Supreme Court is “affected by the economic and socio-political climate prevailing in the country.” It is standard

practice these days for persons in leadership positions to blame climate change and the environment for their own failures. I was surprised Justice Tanko Muhammad did not blame the Russia-Ukraine war for the lack of diesel and internet services at the Supreme Court of Nigeria! He accused his brother Justices of “dancing naked at the market square”, and gave a small, incoherent lecture about how budgets are made and managed, and an additional rigmarole about deaths and transfers at the Supreme Court. He concluded: “the general public should be rest assured that there’s no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.” Of course, that is not true. The judiciary, the third arm of government under the doctrine of the separation of powers, has never been more divided. The import of the letter by the 14 Justices was that they had lost confidence in the leadership of Justice Tanko Muhammed. The letter was so strongly worded, the tone so dismissive, it was evident that I.T. Muhammad, JSC had lost the moral authority to lead the apex court. He cited ill-heath as the ground for his resignation. It is God that heals. Anyone can fall ill, even the Constitution recognizes this at Section 231(4). We should wish Justice Tanko Muhammed speedy recovery, but it was best he withdrew himself from further embarrassment, and the Supreme Court from further ridicule. Indeed, before he threw in the towel, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) through its President, Olumide Akpata waded into the matter and concluded that “there is a clear need for mechanisms to be put in place to ensure that the Judiciary (with the Supreme Court leading the charge) is providing the necessary template to other arms of government on transparent procurement and budgeting. This will reduce the perception in some quarters that the judiciary is not accountable to anyone and is also not self-regulating.” As if it was meant to be a follow up to this, a human rights lawyer and activist, Malcolm E. Omirhobo through his law firm, Malcolm Omirhobo & Co wrote a Freedom of Information (FOI) request letter to the former CJN asking for details of transactions of the Supreme Court from 2019 till date. The FOI Request letter demanded: (1) “proof of receipt of total funds disbursed to your Lordship from the National Judicial Council as head of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (2) The Financial Statement of Accounts of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from the 1st day of January 2019 to date; (3) Proof of the total expenditure of the Supreme Court for the period of 1st January 2019 to date… (4) Payment vouchers for projects; (5) The total amount realized from Internally Generated Revenue…” For record purposes, Malcolm Omirhobo is the same lawyer who showed up at the Supreme Court on Thursday, June 23, 2022, to protest against the judgment of the court sanctioning the use of hijab by female Muslim students in Lagos state public schools (per Lagos State Government vs. Asiyat Abdulkareem). Omirhobo, claiming to be expressing gratitude and solidarity over the ruling abandoned his regulation dress code as a lawyer and showed up as an “Olokun” priest in court. He has since continued to show up in court in the same attire while urging everyone to emulate his example and go to work in their religious habiliments. His protest is a fine piece of satire and sarcasm. This was not the least episode in Justice Tanko Muhammad’s histrionic tenure as Chief Justice of Nigeria. He assumed office at a time of low confidence in the Nigerian judiciary. He has left it in a worse place, further eroding the integrity of the entire system. Under Justice Tanko Muhammad’s watch, there were frequent cases of indiscipline on the Bench which the National Judicial Council struggled to address without success. Judges and lawyers openly abused court processes, with courts of equal jurisdiction violating elementary rules of procedure. Ex parte orders became so commonplace you would think ex parte was the

name of a special delicacy at a fast food joint. Within three years of the former CJN’s leadership, it became difficult to tell the difference between judges and politicians in many parts of the country. Lawyers were so desperate they became forum and ambulance chasers! Many appointments to the Bench including the Court of Appeal were controversial. Judgements were delivered based on technicalities with the most notable in this regard being the mathematical conundrum in the Imo Governorship case. The age of judicial activism and robust intellection was gone. Judges who would love to make the extra effort probably did not bother, confronted as they were, with contradictions in their place of work – the temple of justice. Justice Tanko Muhammad was the 16th Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). In terms of ranking in that office, he would probably literally be ranked in that same position among his peers. President Muhammadu Buhari probably has a different opinion as I guess, many others. In his remarks at the inauguration of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as Acting JSC, on Monday, June 27, 2022 at the State House Abuja, he conferred, after a fashion, the second national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Justice Tanko Muhammad. He also said of him: “History will be kind to Justice Tanko Muhammad for his modest contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary, the strengthening of our democracy and national development.” It seems to me that time is the final arbiter of all things, and of course, time will tell. But the point has been made in some quarters that perhaps Justice Muhammad was pushed out of the door, - and not for health reasons - but because his brother Justices who had lost confidence in him, were beginning to show signs of anger and restlessness. They even threatened to stop sitting. Imagine Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria going on strike! In fact, a Supreme Court that some people believe is rather lenient with political leaders suddenly delivered a hammer blow the other day. For example, in a recent ruling, in the matter of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022 brought before the Court by President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Supreme Court practically rebuked both the President and the AGF for seeking to use the court to violate the legislative supremacy of the National Assembly. A panel of seven Justices dismissed the suit as an abuse of judicial process! Does this have anything to do with the former CJN’s exit? Whatever it is, there is still some unfinished business around and about his resignation. Justice Walter Onnoghen lost his position in 2019, as a result of a petition by a civil society activist, raising issues of corruption. The Federal Government pounced on this and hounded him out of office. Justice Tanko Muhammad was openly accused by his own team in the apex court, including the next person to him in terms of seniority, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who has now succeeded him in an acting capacity, pending the activation of due process leading to his own eventual confirmation. The former CJN should not just exit like that. His colleagues, the NBA and the activist, Malcolm Omirhobo have raised questions about transparency and accountability. Those questions must be addressed. Really, how much was collected? How much was spent? What kind of budgeting and expenditure systems exist at the apex court? Justice Ariwoola who has now taken over the mantle of leadership at the Supreme Court has his job cut out for him. The first thing is to rebuild morale within the judiciary, starting from the apex court. The second is to dispel the clouds left behind by his predecessor with regard to funds management and welfare. The third is to do everything to raise the profile and integrity of the judiciary. He has the lessons of history behind him, and the experience of his two immediate predecessors and their circumstances.

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